Glossary of Special Education

Due Process: The procedures that parents can use to disagree with the decisions of school district officials concerning special education. The parent is informed of the rights by written notice, which describes the options of a pre-hearing conference, a formal hearing, and appeals.

Evaluation: The process used to determine if a child has a disability and if special education is needed. The evaluation looks at how the child learns, the kind of instruction that would be successful, and the kinds of instruction that have been tried and have not resulted in success.

Evaluation Report (ER): The report that is compiled and written by the evaluation team (which includes parents) following the evaluation. It contains all of the information gathered from the team members, including the results of assessment. From the report, the evaluation team determines the student's eligibility and need for special education programs.

Free Appropriate public education (fape): A program of education and related services for a child with a disability that is designed to meet the child's special education needs and which allows a child to make meaningful progress in the educational setting. It is provided without charge to parents.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): The federal law, which governs the provision of special education services and the rights of parents of a child with a disability.

Individualized Education Program (IEP): The plan written by the IEP team (including parents) that specifically describes the programs and services necessary for a free appropriate public education for the child with a disability.

Notice of recommended educational placement (norep): The form issued to parents to inform them of the placement recommended by the IEP team.

Related Services: Services necessary to provide specially designed instruction to ensure the child benefits from the special education programs. Examples include special transportation, counseling, and physical therapy.

Special Education: An educational program individually designed to meet the unique education needs for a child with disability.

Specially designed instruction: Adapting the content, methods or delivery of the instruction as is appropriate based on the unique needs of the child with a disability.

Transition Planning: Specific planning in school that helps to prepare students with disabilities to participate more effectively in higher education or job training, community participation, independent living, continuing and adult education, and employment when they leave school.