School Lingo 101: Understanding Special Education

Many children require additional support in school for a variety of reasons. However, the education system can be difficult to navigate. Since parents are the primary advocate for their children, it is important to understand what is available, how to obtain services, and which services are appropriate for your child. Below is an introduction to our “special education dictionary” to help you better understand language your school may use. Pro Tip: Always familiarize yourself with the basics of special education before entering a school meeting to ensure your child is receiving the support they are afforded by special education law. 

IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that entitles students with disabilities to special education services. IDEA requires that schools provide a free and appropriate public education to all students, tailored to the individual needs of children who have a disability. Students must qualify as a “child with a disability” under one of the 13 disability classifications.

FAPE
Under IDEA, schools are required to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). This means that a child’s education must be provided at the expense of the state, giving all children access to the general curriculum. Be mindful that the state is required to provide an appropriate education, as opposed to the ideal or preferred education. 

LRE
IDEA also requires that children are educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE). This means that the educational setting must be most like that of typical children, but that the environment must also meet your child’s needs. For this reason, schools will always emphasize a less supportive setting, as long as your child is able to learn.

IEP 
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is provided for every student in the special education system. It states the needed programmatic changes to the curriculum and is essentially a roadmap for understanding the student’s current levels of performance. The IEP identifies goals to work toward as well as any classroom or testing accommodations a student requires in order to learn effectively. An IEP is a working document that can be revisited at any point during the school year and is reevaluated on an annual basis, at minimum.

Disability Classification 
Under IDEA, there are 13 disability classifications. In order to qualify for special education services, a student must fall in one of these classification categories. The 13 categories are below:

Specific Learning Disability
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Emotional Disturbance (ED)
Speech or Language Impairment (SLI)
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Visual Impairment
Deafness
Hearing Impairment
Deaf-Blindness
Orthopedic Impairment
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Multiple Disabilities

504 Plan 
A 504 Accommodation Plan also provides a free and appropriate education to children with disabilities through Section 504 the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A 504 Plan guarantees certain rights to people with disabilities who do not meet the definition of a “child with a disability” under IDEA, yet still have challenges related to accessing the educational curriculum. This may apply to children who do not require a change of educational program or setting and therefore, are not part of special education. A 504 Plan covers accommodations, services, and supports to help a child access their education. Specific goals are not identified nor monitored within a 504 Plan. 

Modifications vs. Accommodations
Modifications change what a student is taught, meaning that the curriculum differs from that of other students in the same grade. Children who receive a modified curriculum are not expected to learn the same material as their peers. Typically, an IEP provides some kind of modification to the educational curriculum. Accommodations alter how a student learns the material, without changing the curriculum. Accommodations help students meet the same expectations as their peers with identified changes to classroom instruction or tests. An IEP can provide both modifications and accommodations for a student, while a 504 Plan will only provide accommodations.