Terms you Need to Know

Annual Goals: Once the PLP is written and reviewed, the team decides where it believes the child could be in a year's time. While it's important to be realistic, very often the abilities are underestimated and no really meaningful progress is expected. Goals should be set that a child can reach if given plenty of support and services during the year.

Short Term Objectives: Once you know where you want your child to be in a year, the team should then break down into steps what it will take to get there. What is the logical first step? What will happen next in that progression? Usually we see at least three or four short-term objectives for each annual goal. They're dated chronologically, so that the team knows when each objective should be mastered in order to meet that annual goal.

The new IDEA requires that parents of children with disabilities receive reports on their child's progress towards their individual goals at least as often as parents of non-disabled children receive progress reports. Another new requirement is that the measurement of progress must be measurable; in other words it cannot be based on opinion.

Assistive Technology: is any device that assists a person in their performance. Computers, audio trainers, calculators, and special writing instruments are just a few items that could be called assistive technology.

If your child is qualified for special education, you're entitled to ask for any device that will make the difference between failure and success, and the district pays for that device and its maintenance. For our children with ADHD, a computer can make all the difference in the world in getting written assignments organized and completed on time.

Extended school year, or ESY: This is usually summer school. Many parents are told that if their child doesn't show "regression" over a summer they don't qualify for ESY. Extended school year can be accessed for a number of other needs if a child is lagging academically. Also, a district can't offer a one-size-fits-all class for ESY.

Office of Special Education Programs: The branch of the U. S. Department of Education that oversees and administers the special education programs. This office also writes the federal special education regulations and oversees their enforcement. They also provide wonderful training and administer many programs. You can find their site listed on my links page.

top | more terms you need to know.

advocacy | documentation | test explanations | behavior plan
articles | terms | your advocacy tips |