IEP Resources and Articles

  • Four girls laying on their stomach, smiling with their heads in their hands and their barefeet lifted up behind them.

    Special Education Overview

    Disabilities that affect learning are common. About one student out of eight in the US formally qualifies for some form of help to support their learning needs. The public education system is designed to serve all students, without exception. Both federal and state laws define and protect this mission. This lesson of Ed100 summarizes how schools serve students with special needs.

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  • Image of a classroom with a young woman at a desk, holding a binder open and speaking to a middle aged woman and young girl who are seated next to her.

    Measuring Student Progress

    Reviewing IEP Progress Reports are an opportunity to check in with teachers to find out how your child is doing at school and the progress they are making on their IEP Goals. 

    Click the link below to read an article from The Center for Parent Information & Resources on Measuring & Reporting Student Progress.

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  • Student in Classroom

    Special Education Placement

    Once the IEP team has decided what services a child needs, a decision must be made about where services will be provided. Where the child’s IEP is carried out is called placement. Parents have the right to be part of the group that decides the child’s placement.

    In deciding the child’s placement, the group must make sure that the child has the maximum opportunity appropriate to learn with children who do not have disabilities—in academic, nonacademic, and extracurricular activities. This part of IDEA is called Least Restrictive Environment or LRE.

     

     

    Read More at Parent Center Hub
  • Image of a beach, sun on top right corner, summer chair, cold drink and bright blue sky

    Free Summer Resources from Social Thinking

    Summer brings sunshine, popsicles, and the relief of time off. But for many students and their parents, it can also bring a whole new set of challenges. Changes in routines, more unstructured time, travel, or just the emotional shift from “school mode” to “summer mode” can leave kids feeling off-balance.

    The good news? Summer is a fantastic time to build social and self-awareness skills in a low-pressure environment. Explore some resources below!

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    IEP Resources

    The following articles and resources are helpful for those just starting out in the IEP process or who are looking for more information about how best to support the education of a child with disabilities. You can also refer to our Special Education Family Handbook or the Parent Center IEP guide or are monthly news articles for more information about Special Education.

    Measuring Student Progress
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    Considerations for Twice Exceptional Learners
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    Supporting Innovative Practices

    SIP is a technical assistance project charged with supporting LEAs throughout California to increase inclusion, equity, and achievement of students with disabilities (and all students) in the LRE. (see Logic Model, Mission, and Vision statements). They have a resource hub through the California Statewide System of Support Toolkit available to explore. 

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    This page was last updated on September 3, 2026