Updated language in the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) along with new guidance in a No Child Left Behind (NCLB) regulation finalized in 2007, necessitates that Michigan create a standards-based format and procedures for an individualized education program (IEP). A standards-based IEP aligns student academic goals with the general education curriculum.

As part of Michigan’s preparation to meet all of the new federal requirements, the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (OSE-EIS) formed a work group to review the IEP requirements. The work group developed a draft of a new IEP format and will continue to develop standards-based procedural and guidance documents. The prototype of the IEP format and guidance documents will be distributed to school districts later in 2009; a transition to the new IEP format will begin at that time.

All IEP team members will need to be familiar with the general education curriculum, standards based on grade level content expectations (GLCEs), and all of the state assessments in order to be able to make informed decisions.

The standards-based IEP reinforces concepts that shape Michigan’s current education principles, policies and practices:

• All students are general education students
• There is one curriculum - the general education curriculum
• The IEP identifies supports necessary for students with disabilities to achieve and make progress in the general education curriculum

To read more about the Standards-based IEP look for the upcoming issue of FOCUS on Results Guidance and Technical Assistance, “Standards Based Individualized Education Program (IEP) Benefits Students” by Pat MacQuarrie (March 2009, volume #7, Issue #2, packet #14, Article 3. Visit www.cenmi.org to subscribe to receive email notifications about this electronic document, or to receive a print copy.