IEP

The Meeting Notice should include the names and positions of required IEP participants, other than parents, and others who have relevant information to develop the IEP

The principal can assign a designee to represent LEA administration at a
IEP meeting.  The designee must be qualified to provide or supervise the
provision of specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of the
eligible individual and is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and
the availability of resources of the LEA.  Consequently the special
education teacher could be both the teacher and designee.  If the
administrator knows prior to the Meeting Notice being sent that they are not
going to be available at the IEP meeting the special education teacher's
name will be on both the LEA rep line and the special education teacher line
If they are filling a dual role at the IEP meeting they need to have their
name on both the special education teacher line and the LEA representative
line of the IEP.  If the administrator's name was listed on the Meeting
Notice and now is not able to attend because of a conflict, the Agreement to
Excuse Attendance at IEP Meeting form must be completed. 

Team members must attend all parts of the IEP meeting where they have a contribution to make to the IEP process. 

The Agreement to Excuse Attendance at an IEP Meeting form is used
when a required IEP team participant, other than parents, are unable to attend a meeting.

The Iowa Administrative Rules of Special Education clearly state that the following people must be in attendance at an IEP meeting:
• The parent
• At least one general education teacher
• At least one special education teacher OR special education provider (e.g., SLP)
• A representative of the LEA who is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of specially designed instruction and is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and resources…
• An individual who can interpret evaluation results

In the event that one of more of the individuals required (some may play more than one role) do not attend, parents should be given the opportunity to reschedule at a time when all can be present.  If parents ask that the meeting proceed, use the “Agreement to Excuse Attendance at IEP Meeting” form to document the decision to proceed.

The decision to reschedule or excuse some members will depend on the circumstances and the needs of the student.  If, for example, a student is receiving only support services, the involvement of other members can more easily be excused than if the student were also receiving instructional services.  A student who is enrolled in an Early Childhood Special Education classroom may not yet require the active involvement of a general education teacher and/or LEA representative in the planning process, making it more justifiable to excuse their attendance.

The procedure allows for changes to an IEP using an Amendment, and without a meeting ONLY IF BOTH THE PARENT AND PUBLIC AGENCY (school or AEA) AGREE.  This presumes then that the parent has been contacted and changes discussed prior to the completion of the amendment IEP.  The decision as to who makes the actual contact is a matter for teams to determine.  In some cases, it makes sense for the special education teacher or service provider to make the contact. In other cases, the case manager is the best choice.  Finally, the official communication with the parent is done through the Amended IEP and the Prior Written Notice form.

The Web IEP program has taken the text goal page (with milestones/objectives) and automatically connected to the graph setup screen to it.  There is no longer a choice of a text or graph goal, it is a "New Goal".  Effective January 1, 2008 NWAEA requires a graph with all goals.

No.  The IDEA regulations and state rules permit a “trial reintegration” period (during which time special education services are not provided, but progress monitoring continues) for a MAXIMUM of 45 school days.  Consult the Exit/Reintegration procedure and Quick-Guide matrix in the 2007-2008 Addendum for specific details.

Remember, eligible=eligible.  If a student is determined to be an Eligible Individual by an IEP team, and then moves to another district, AEA, state, etc., he/she continues to be eligible until determined by an IEP team, through a properly conducted Reevaluation, to no longer be eligible.  In conducting the Reevaluation, the team must examine evidence about the student’s educational progress, instructional needs, discrepancy, and using the same standards, determine whether the student continues to be an eligible individual or not.

An ESY discussion (determination of specific services to be offered, decision to not offer ESY services previously included in an IEP, etc.) can take place at a conference, informal meeting with parents, even a phone call, and the IEP amended to reflect the changes IF BOTH THE PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC AGENCY (LEA or AEA) AGREE.  Parents are provided with a copy of the Amended IEP and Prior Written Notice form.

There is no specific designation in the rules about who bears the responsibility for actually completing and providing Prior Written Notice to parents (AEA or LEA)…only that it MUST be done.  Technically, the LEA and AEA bear a joint responsibility for compliance with all aspects of IDEA.  On a more practical level, it would seem to be logical for the AEA to handle the PWN for Eligibility decisions, and the school to handle it for on-going program changes.  Teams will have to work collaboratively with schools to develop a system that works efficiently.

Prior Written Notice of Proposed/Refused Action (PWN) must be given to parents of a child with a disability a reasonable time before the public agency proposes to change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of FAPE OR refuses to change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of FAPE.  Any change that adds, removes or modifies the intensity of services to be provided, impacts the percentage of removal from general education settings, or otherwise alters the provision of FAPE should be documented in the IEP and Prior Written Notice form.