Who develops the IEP?

Who develops the IEP?

• A. The school principal alone.
• B. The student's family only.
• C. The classroom teacher and the student only.
• D. The student's educational team, including a qualified interpreter, family, general classroom teacher, a speech-language pathologist, the audiologist, an administrator, a deaf educator, and the student when appropriate.

Answer: (D)

IEP development is a collaborative, multidisciplinary process that brings together people who know the student and can provide or arrange the supports they need. The team should include the student’s family, the regular classroom teacher, the special education teacher, and a school district representative who can commit to the resources available. In addition, the team brings in others who provide services or have specialized knowledge—such as a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, a deaf educator, and, when needed, a qualified interpreter. The student is included and engaged when appropriate to share input and preferences. Having this full mix of perspectives ensures that goals, accommodations, and services are realistic, coordinated, and aligned with the student’s communication and learning needs. A principal or one teacher alone cannot address all aspects, and family alone or just the teacher and student would miss essential expertise and resources.

IEP development is a collaborative, multidisciplinary process that brings together people who know the student and can provide or arrange the supports they need. The team should include the student’s family, the regular classroom teacher, the special education teacher, and a school district representative who can commit to the resources available. In addition, the team brings in others who provide services or have specialized knowledge—such as a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, a deaf educator, and, when needed, a qualified interpreter. The student is included and engaged when appropriate to share input and preferences.

Having this full mix of perspectives ensures that goals, accommodations, and services are realistic, coordinated, and aligned with the student’s communication and learning needs. A principal or one teacher alone cannot address all aspects, and family alone or just the teacher and student would miss essential expertise and resources.