Special education acronyms often add an additional level of confusion for many parents during IEP meetings. As a parent, it is often easy to distance yourself from IEP meeting conversations once team members begin using language such as LEA, FAPE, and LRE. Although below is not an exhaustive list of special education acronyms, the list does provide you an overview of many of the typical acronyms used.
AE – Age Equivalent
AT – Assistive Technology
BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
DOE – Department of Education
ED – Emotional Disturbance
ESY – Extended School Year
FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA – Functional Behavior Assessment
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
GE – Grade Equivalent
IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
ID – Intellectual Disability
I/DD – Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability
IEE – Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP – Individualized Education Program
LEA – Local Education Agency
LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
MDR – Manifestation Determination Review
OSEP – Office of Special Education Program
PLOP – Present Levels of Performance
PWN – Prior Written Notice
RTI – Response to Intervention
SEA – State Education Agency
SLI – Speech Language Impairment
VR – Vocational Rehabilitation
When you hire us to help your special needs child we will provide you a complete list of special education acronyms so you can be empowered to advocate for your child.
