IEP? What Does That Mean?

It can be very overwhelming sitting in an IEP meeting when the team keeps using educational terms that you may not fully understand.  These hidden terms can often be misleading when you are told what type of support your child is actually receiving.

Below are some of the common terms you may see or hear in your child’s IEP planning…

Push-in minutes: related service therapy (i.e.: speech, OT, PT, etc) that takes place in the classroom

Pull-out minutes: related service therapy (i.e.: speech, OT, PT, etc) that takes place outside of the classroom in an alternate location during the school day (i.e.: speech office, hallway, etc.)

Direct Minutes: related service therapy minutes provided to the child either in small or large group or one-on-one with a therapist

Consult Minutes: minutes the therapist spends consulting with the teacher and team before or after school to discuss progress and tips for carry over of skills in each setting throughout the child’s day (consult minutes do not service the child directly)
Receptive Language Skills: (language input) ability to understand/comprehend what is heard or read
Expressive Language Skills: (language output) ability to put thoughts into words
Paraprofessional (a.k.a.: “para”): a term some districts use to refer to an aide or teaching assistant. (TA/aide/para’s are not certified to provide core instruction, but rather help a student access his/her education)
Program Aide: one of the teaching assistants assigned to the classroom to assist all students in that class
1:1 Aide: a teaching assistant assigned to help just your child
Accommodation: changes how the child learns the material
Modification: changes what the child is taught or expected to learn
Self-contained placement: a setting, where a child spends 60% or more of his/her school day apart from the general educational environment

Be sure to ask questions if you hear these terms, especially if you don’t understand or agree with any for your child’s unique needs.

Thank you Carly Quinlan, IEP Consultant & Advocate with IEP Consulting, LLC for sharing this helpful information with us today!

To learn more about Carly and how she can help you please visit her website.  We look forward to hearing more from Carly.  Do you have IEP questions you would like to see answered here? Please leave them in the comments.