Glossary
This glossary is designed to help you better understand terms related to special education programming. Please contact us with any questions you may have!
Assistive Technology (AT): Any item that a child needs to increase, maintain or improve how the child does in school. AT includes low-tech and high-tech items, from a calculator to a computer. AT also can mean services a child needs to help in choosing, getting, or using the item.
Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP): Also called a "behavioral intervention plan." The IEP Team makes a plan to help prevent problem behaviors. The plan helps a child learn new appropriate behaviors. A positive behavior plan is not a list of punishments.
Consent: The parent tells the school in writing that the parent understands and agrees to what the school plans to do. The consent form says the parent understands consent is voluntary and the parent can take it back at any time. You can revoke the consent, but it does not cancel what the LEA has already done.
Evaluation: Measures to decide if your child qualifies for special education. It is also measures to decide the kind and amount of services your child needs. The measures may be testing, observing, or talking to people who work with the child.
Evaluation Report: The IEP team gathers all evaluation information about your child. They work together to write a final report about the evaluation. The report includes whether your child qualifies for special education.
Functional Behavioral Assessment: The IEP Team finds out what makes the child keep doing problem behaviors to help the child learn how to behave differently.
General Curriculum: The curriculum children without disabilities learn in the general education classroom.
Home-based Schooling: Parents choose to teach their child at home, instead of sending their child to school to learn basic subjects.
Homebound Schooling: When the child's IEP Team decides it is appropriate, the school teaches a child at home. The IEP Team's decision must be based on the child's needs.
LEA Representative: A person on the IEP Team who can commit the school's resources so that the child receives the IEP services. An LEA representative must take part in IEP meetings.
Placement: The child's IEP, the setting (regular class, resource room, self-contained class), and the school building the child attends.
Positive Behavior Plan: Also called a "behavioral intervention plan." The IEP Team makes a plan to help prevent problem behaviors. The plan helps a child learn new appropriate behaviors. A positive behavior plan is not a list of punishments.
Related Services: Services a child may need to benefit from special education. They are included in the IEP.
Summary Report: Each IEP Team participant who evaluated your child writes a report telling about evaluation results that will help with program planning.
Transition: Transition is the term for preparing a child for life after graduation. Transition planning is a required part of every child's IEP starting at age 14. Transition planning is also required for every child moving from Birth to Three Programs to early Childhood. Sometimes transition planning happens when a child moves from one grade to the next, or one school to the next. Transition can also mean moving from one class to the next class in school.