IDEA
2004 includes major changes in the Individualized Education
Program (IEP) process.
While
Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) must continue
to include measurable annual goals, the requirement of short-term
objectives or benchmarks towards attainment of the goals
has been eliminated for most students. Such short-term objectives
formerly served as the primary means of measuring a student’s
progress under and IEP. It will now be up to parents and
advocates to ensure that a reliable method of measuring
students’ progress is included in their IEPs. School
districts must provide progress reports on a periodic basis,
which specifically describe the student’s progress
towards the annual goals.
Parents
and school districts may agree to conduct IEP meetings with
fewer participants than in the past or via telephone, if
mutually agreeable.
Transition
services must be included in the IEP that will be in effect
at the time the student turns 16 years old. IDEA 2004 now
requires that a student’s transition plan must include
“measurable post-secondary goals” in skill areas
needed for future training, education, employment, and where
appropriate, independent living skills. Moreover, such services
must be based upon appropriate transition assessments. These
provisions should help ensure that students leave school
with the skills needed for success in the “real world.”
Several
changes were made to IDEA 2004's due process procedures.
Requests for a due process hearing must contain certain
specified information, and may be dismissed if they fail
to do so. Upon requesting a due process hearing, school
districts are required to convene a “resolution session”
with the parents to seek a resolution to the dispute without
the need for a hearing. Also, a request for a due process
hearing generally must be filed no later than 2 years after
the events giving rise to the dispute.
In
spite of some pitfalls, IDEA 2004 provides many opportunities
for parents and other interested parties to enhance the
educational experiences of students with disabilities. As
always , however, the only way to ensure effective results
is to remain actively involved and vigilant at every step
of the way.
©2005
Copyright
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