What is the relationship of a student's IEP to my curriculum?
It is likely that the curriculum you are using in your classroom is already established by the district in which you work and is guided by state and local district standards. Depending on the grade level you teach, your curriculum will include basic content areas such as reading, mathematics, social studies, and more. All students, including those who have disabilities, must be taught this basic curriculum. Students identified as eligible for special education, however, may need specific accommodations, adjustments, and changes in the standard school curriculum. These specialized needs will be decided upon by the team responsible for writing the student's IEP (Individual Education Plan).
Factual Information
As noted in Essential Question 7 of the SERGE modules, the IEP is written for students who have been identified as eligible for special education services and will include information about the child's needs, program, and goals. The IEP will provide you with the guidance you need to understand the specialized needs of a specific child. For example, if a child has a physical disability, the IEP will indicate whether you must arrange your classroom in particular ways to accommodate the disability.
As a teacher, you and your colleagues in special education will call on universal design principles when you prepare your classroom and instruction to support students who have disabilities, especially those with more severe disabilities.
Classroom Activities
If you are unsure about the relationship of a student's IEP goals to the established curriculum, talk with a colleague or administrator in your school.
Collaboration
No collaborative activities are available at this time.
Resources and Links
- For a review of IEP components, refer to two sections of the U.S. Department of Education's website. One section is a guide for parents and the other section explains the components of an Individual Education Plan.
- You will want to give thought to the types of academic and behavioral expectations you have for students who have disabilities. With the exception of those with the most significant disabilities, most students who have disabilities can achieve the same standard curriculum as other students if specific accommodations and modifications are made. The National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota has a paper entitled Expectations for Students with Cognitive Disabilities: Is the Cup Half Empty or Half Full? Can the Cup Flow Over? on their website that provides an overview of the expectations that are appropriate for students with cognitive disabilities.