It is a written plan that describes the individual student's strengths and needs. It states the expectations for the student in the current school year, showing where the curriculum needs to be adjusted or modified. It identifies the programs and services that will be provided to help the student achieve his or her Educational goals. The plan also indicates how teachers will review and assess the pupil's progress. This makes the plan an important tool for educators, not only in terms of evaluating a student, but also in terms of talking to and working with parents about their child's education.
Principals usually delegate the actual writing of the plan to the child's teacher.
The teacher consults with the parents and board support staff as part of the process. The plan must be in place within 30 days of the child starting a special education program. For an exceptional pupil who is 14 or older, the Individual Education Plan also contains a plan for the student's eventual progress from school to further education, training or work, or to help the student live as independently as possible in the community. The student's strengths and needs Purpose of the standard To identify the student's strengths and needs clearly, as the basis on which an appropriate special education program and services are developed. The descriptions of the student's strengths and needs must be clear and specific.