Sped-onyms

Sped-onyms

Special Education is filled with acronyms, which can be extremely difficult to decipher meaning from, especially when you are new to the IEP process. I often compare it to having a basic understanding of Spanish, and attempting to learn content spoken in Spanish in a high school chemistry class- near impossible! This first blog is to assist parents and teachers in not only identifying what all of these acronyms stand for, but to also give you a brief description of what they mean.

AcronymStands forMeaning
IFSPIndividual Family Service Plan An IFSP provides services to children with developmental delays between the ages of birth-3, once a child turns 3, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be put into place.
EIEarly InterventionEarly Intervention Services are provided for children who qualify for an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), and may include speech, occupational therapy (OT), or specialized preschool programs.
IEPIndividualized Education PlanA legally binding document written for students with disabilities that outlines, services, placement, goals, and accommodations specific to that individual child.
SSTStudy Study TeamA group meeting to help identify solutions when a child is struggling academically and/or behaviorally (may occur before referral to special education).
APT Assessment Planning TeamThis team determines which assessments will be given to a child who has been referred for special education (all areas of suspected disability).
IDEAIndividuals with Disabilities ActIDEA was renewed in 2004, and is the law that ensures that students with disabilities have access to early intervention, special education, and related services.
FBAFunctional Behavioral AssessmentThis is a data collection process that is the backbone of a strong behavior intervention plan. It is conducted by a psychologist or behaviorist.
BIPBehavior Intervention PlanThis plan outlines the specific steps used to reduce a difficult behavior and increase a more positive behavior. It looks at preventative ways to reduce behavior, as well as positive interventions.
ESYExtended School YearFor many schools, ESY is the summer program, and there are a variety of ways to show your child requires this service be added to their IEP.
FAPEFree and Appropriate Public EducationIDEA outlines that all students with disabilities have the right to FAPE, and thus can not be excluded from school.
LRELeast Restricted EnvironmentOne of the pillars of IDEA, states that students with disabilities should be educated, to the maximum extent possible, with their nondisabled peers.
RTIResponse to InterventionRTI is a school-wide multi-tiered approach to support students with academic and behavioral needs. It uses high quality instruction, and data driven measures to identify struggle students, and to implement and monitor interventions to bridge the gap.
NPSNon-public SchoolNPS are private schools, certified by the state, to educate students based on their IEP.
OHI Other-Health ImpairedThis is a category under which children can qualify for a disability and special education services. This category includes a variety of health-related needs including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), asthma, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
SLDSpecific Learning DisabilityThis is another IDEA category under which children can qualify for special education. Children may have a SLD in math, reading, or writing, and involves a processing disorder that impacts their ability to read, write, spell or do math. This category includes dyslexia.
1 Comment
  • Colleen Arnold
    Posted at 13:14h, 15 June

    There are so many more acronyms that could be a part of this post! We are considering a follow up, so what terms are you hearing that need further explanation? Post your comments here and we will consider them for part 2 of this post.