What is an IEP?

INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PLAN

This is a specialized plan for students

with specific learning needs. Some
plans may be adapted (small
changes) and others may be
modified. All changes are made to
meet the student's unique learning
preferences.

WHO IS INVOLVED?

We want to hear as many voices as

possible! At the school level, the
classroom teacher, resource teacher,
educational assistant and other There are 5 stages in this
school specialists will be involved. At
the home-front, both the parents and process:
students will be consulted. 1. Identification /
WHEN ARE THEY REVIEWED? Assessment
Twice a year - once around October
2. Planning John Smith
3. Program support /
Elementary
and November and another between
April and May!
Implementation
4. Evaluation Overview of the Year -
What to expect and
5. Reporting
what to look forward to

By Ariel Su
 "Tell me and I
Roles of... forget. Teach me
THE PARENTS and I remember.
Involve me and I
- Parents are an equal partner in their child's
education and IEP process learn."
- Know the process of an IEP: setting goals,
strategies, goal assessment and evaluation BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
- Ask questions - IEP meetings are not a
place to resolve conflicts
- Be open to trying new strategies
- Give feedback and listen to others
feedback to minimize misunderstanding
- Focus on your child's strengths and

How long are the

springboard from a positive note into their
needs
- Take time to write down goals and
strategies discussed to avoid confusion
- Stay focused on the outcomes and positive
meetings?
communications
Depending on how much information
needs to be discussed, it can take one to
two hours per meeting.
THE STUDENTS

- Contribute by completing a survey about Who attends the Where will the
their likes and dislikes, how they learn best,
their aspirations, favourite subject(s) with IEP meetings? meeting take
the help of an adult
- Advocate for themselves!
- Proactively participate during the meeting In a nutshell, everyone that's part of the IEP
place?
and speak up when they think strategies can attend these meetings - parents /
won't work for them guardians, student, classroom teacher(s), It takes place on site (at John Smith
- Openly communicate their strengths and resource teacher(s), educational Elementary) unless accommodations
stretches to the IEP Team assistant(s), other specialists. need to be made.
By Ariel Su
Importance of...
STUDENT'S OPINION

Student input is very important. The

"Student Profile" and "My Learning
Profile" portion of the IEP should always
have parts written by the students
themselves. There, students will share
information on things such as what they
like or dislike and what they need in order
to be successful.

There has been studies where students

can be trained to lead a self-directed IEP.
According to Cooper, students can
"introduc[e] themselves and team
members, stat[e] meeting's purpose,
review past goals and progress, ask for
feedback, ask questions, deal with
different opinions, ask for support, express
skills, interests, limits, options and goals
Year-End Review
and finally clos[e] the meeting" (Cooper,
2019).
This meeting always take place
between April and May. This is
PARENTS' THOUGHTS when the team looks over the "Every student can
Parents should be part of the IEP meeting goals that were first set in learn, just not on
because they have the right "to be October / November. The team the same day or in
informed of a student's attendance,
behaviour and progress in school, and to will look over what needs to be the same way."
receive, on request, annual reports changed (goal achieved or need to
respecting general effectiveness of
be modified / adapted) and set a GEORGE EVANS
educational programs in the school Canadian Singer
district" (British Columbia Ministry of new and updated IEP for the next
Education).
school year.
By Ariel Su

The Team
We have a wonderful and extremely
hard working crew of EAs.
Ms. C. Chen has been working at J. S.
Elementary for five years now. She is
patient and works very well with our
primary students.
Mrs. L. Laurent is our most senior EA
who has had a total of fifteen years of
experience in the field.
Mrs. B. Brunt is new to our school but
worked previously at Jane Doe
Elementary for nine years.
Mr. W. Wilms is a trained in First-Aid
and works especially well with
intermediate students.
"The beautiful thing
about learning is
that no one can take
it away from you"
B. B. KING
Singer-songwriter
Our EAs!
At John Smith Elementary School, we
believe in full integration of all learners. This
is where our wonderful Educational
Assistants come in. They are patient, kind,
knowledgable, and professionally-trained
individuals who understands how to assist
your child when they are at school.
Their main role "is to support the teacher
working with individual, or groups of,
students" (ONIP). Along with the teachers,
educational assistants enrich the
educational program by helping students
gain the knowledge and skills they need to
function in the classroom, the school and the
larger community.
References:
British Columbia Ministry of Education.
(2016, April). Special Education
Services: A Manual of Policies,
Procedures and Guidelines. Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada.
Cooper, S. (2019, September). Student
Involvement in IEP Meetings in British
Columbia. Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada.
ONIP. (2021). Educational Assistant in
Canada. Retrieved from ONIP:
www.onip.ca/educational-assistant/
The Alberta Teachers' Association.
(2021). Who Are Educational
Assistants? Retrieved from The Alberta
Teachers' Association:
https://www.teachers.ab.ca/News%2
0Room/Publications/Teachers%20and
%20Educational%20Assistants%20%20
Roles%20and%20Responsibilities/Pag
es/Who%20are%20educational%20ass
istants.aspx
By Ariel Su