What Is an IEP?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document that ensures your child receives the special education services they need to succeed in school. It is not a suggestion or a recommendation - it is the law.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every public school child who is found eligible for special education services must have an IEP. This applies to children ages 3 through 21.

An IEP is not a gift from the school. It is your child's legal right. The school is required to provide the services in the IEP - and you are an equal member of the team that creates it.

What Does an IEP Include?

An IEP is a detailed document that covers every aspect of your child's educational needs:

• Present Levels of Performance - Where your child is right now academically and functionally. This is the baseline.
• Measurable Annual Goals - Specific, measurable objectives your child should achieve within one year. Learn how to evaluate IEP goals.
• Special Education Services - The specific services your child will receive (specialized instruction, reading intervention, etc.)
• Related Services - Additional support like speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, physical therapy, or transportation
• Accommodations & Modifications - Changes to how your child is taught or tested (extra time, preferential seating, modified assignments)
• Participation in General Education - How much time your child spends in regular classrooms vs. specialized settings
• State Testing Accommodations - How your child will participate in standardized assessments
• Service Schedule - When services begin, how often they happen, where they take place, and for how long
• Transition Planning - Starting at age 16 (or earlier in some states), a plan for life after high school. Learn more about transition planning.

Who Qualifies for an IEP?

Your child may qualify for an IEP if they have one or more of the following 13 disability categories AND the disability adversely affects their educational performance:

1. Autism
2. Deaf-blindness
3. Deafness
4. Emotional disturbance
5. Hearing impairment
6. Intellectual disability
7. Multiple disabilities
8. Orthopedic impairment
9. Other health impairment (includes ADHD, epilepsy, diabetes, and more)
10. Specific learning disability (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)
11. Speech or language impairment
12. Traumatic brain injury
13. Visual impairment, including blindness

Important: A medical diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify a child. The school must conduct a full, individualized evaluation at no cost to your family.

How Do You Get an IEP?

The process starts with an evaluation. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Request an Evaluation
You can request an evaluation at any time by submitting a written request to your school principal or special education director. You do NOT need a doctor's referral. See our guide with sample letter.

Step 2: The School Responds
The school must respond with either consent to evaluate or a written explanation of why they're refusing. If they refuse, you have the right to challenge that decision.

Step 3: Evaluation
Once you consent, the school has 60 days (in most states) to complete a comprehensive evaluation. This must assess all areas of suspected disability.

Step 4: Eligibility Decision
A team - including you - reviews the results and decides if your child qualifies. If they do, an IEP is created.

Step 5: IEP Meeting
You and the school team develop the IEP together. You are an equal member of this team. Learn how to prepare for IEP meetings.

Step 6: Implementation
The school must implement the IEP as written. If services aren't being delivered, you have the right to hold them accountable.

Step 7: Annual Review
The IEP is reviewed at least once a year. Your child is re-evaluated at least every three years.

What If Your Child Doesn't Qualify?

If your child doesn't qualify for an IEP, they may still be eligible for a 504 Plan, which provides accommodations under a different federal law. Learn the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan.

The Most Important Thing to Know

You do not have to accept what the school tells you. You are your child's most important advocate. Research consistently shows that families who understand their rights and actively participate in the IEP process get better outcomes for their children.

No one knows your child better than you do. You have every right to ask questions, request changes, disagree with decisions, and bring people with you to meetings. The law is on your side.