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An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a written plan developed to support your child in school. It is a working document that describes the strengths and needs of an individual student, the special education program and services established to meet that students’ needs, and how the program and services will be delivered to best support them. It describes the students’ progress and includes a plan to support students in making successful transitions. 

A child may receive an IEP if they:  

1. Have been identified as exceptional through an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC); or, 
2. require special education programming or services. 

The IEP summarizes your child’s: 

• Strengths and needs  
• Assessment information 
• Current level of achievement 
• Goals and specific expectations for your child  
• Progress 
• Transition plan  

As a parent, you play a big role in your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Here at four tips to support the best possible outcomes for your child’s IEP: 

1. Support your child’s goals at home. Practice skills that are being worked on in school and use any visuals or data sheets that are sent home. Likewise, families can share tips and strategies, and visuals used at home with the school. This will help to promote consistency and collaboration between home and school environments. 
2. Take every opportunity to communicate with your child’s teacher. You can develop a plan for communication and share the successes and concerns of your child’s progress with their school team. It’s important to complete home-school communication sheets, fill out permission forms and respond in a timely manner, attend meetings and events at the school.  
3. Look for evidence of growth towards goals on your child’s report card. The IEP outlines goals for your child and it’s important to review report cards and updates from school to help support your child in achieving these goals.  
4. When the IEP is sent home, read and contribute suggestions to it. You are your child’s biggest advocate when supporting the best possible outcomes for their IEP.  

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