IEP acronyms decoded
By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated
Short answer
IEP acronyms are the short forms schools use for laws, plan parts, people and tests in special education. Most come from IDEA and its rules in 34 CFR Part 300. The ones you will hear most are IEP, FAPE, LRE, PLAAFP, SDI, ESY, FBA, BIP and PWN. Each is defined below in plain words.
Special education runs on short forms. In one meeting you might hear that your child's PLAAFP supports a new SDI goal, the FBA is due, and the team will send PWN. None of that is meant to shut you out, but it can. This page decodes the common ones, says where each comes from in federal law, and links to a fuller entry in the IEP glossary.
If you are new to the plan itself, read what an IEP is first.
The plan and its parts
| Acronym | Stands for | What it means for your child | Federal rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEP | Individualized education program | The written plan for your child's special education and services | 34 CFR 300.320 |
| FAPE | Free appropriate public education | Your child's right to special education and services at no cost to you | 34 CFR 300.17 |
| LRE | Least restrictive environment | Your child learns with peers without disabilities as much as is appropriate | 34 CFR 300.114 |
| PLAAFP | Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance | How your child is doing now; also called PLOP or PLP | 34 CFR 300.320(a)(1) |
| SDI | Specially designed instruction | Teaching changed to fit your child's needs | 34 CFR 300.39 |
| ESY | Extended school year | Services beyond the regular school year, if needed | 34 CFR 300.106 |
| STO | Short-term objective | A smaller step toward an annual goal | 34 CFR 300.320(a)(2) |
| AT | Assistive technology | Devices and services that help your child learn or communicate | 34 CFR 300.5 and 300.6 |
| AAC | Augmentative and alternative communication | Ways to communicate besides speech, such as a talker app | Part of AT |
The rule numbers come from IDEA's regulations.[1] You can look any of them up by number.
Evaluations, behavior and paperwork
| Acronym | Stands for | Plain meaning |
|---|---|---|
| FIE | Full and individual evaluation | The school's testing to see if your child qualifies |
| IEE | Independent educational evaluation | Testing by someone outside the school, sometimes at public cost |
| FBA | Functional behavioral assessment | A study of why a behavior happens |
| BIP | Behavior intervention plan | The plan to change that behavior, built from the FBA |
| MDR | Manifestation determination review | A meeting after serious discipline to decide if the behavior came from the disability |
| PWN | Prior written notice | A letter explaining what the school will or will not do, and why |
| RTI | Response to intervention | Extra help in steps, with progress checks, often before a referral |
| MTSS | Multi-tiered system of supports | A schoolwide version of RTI that includes behavior |
| CBM | Curriculum-based measurement | Short timed checks used to track progress |
| WCPM | Words correct per minute | A reading fluency score |
People on the team
| Acronym | Who it is |
|---|---|
| CM | Case manager, your main contact for the IEP |
| SLP | Speech-language pathologist |
| OT | Occupational therapist (fine motor, sensory, daily tasks) |
| PT | Physical therapist (movement, balance, mobility) |
| BCBA | Board Certified Behavior Analyst |
| TVI | Teacher of students with visual impairments |
| LEA rep | Local education agency representative, the person who can commit district resources |
| Para | Paraprofessional, a classroom aide |
Laws and agencies
| Acronym | Stands for | Plain meaning |
|---|---|---|
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act | The federal special education law |
| 504 | Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act | A civil rights law; see Section 504 |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act | A broader disability civil rights law |
| FERPA | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act | Your right to see and protect school records |
| OCR | Office for Civil Rights | Federal office that enforces 504 and the ADA in schools |
| OSEP | Office of Special Education Programs | Federal office that oversees IDEA |
| PTI | Parent Training and Information Center | A free state center that helps families |
Disability categories
IDEA lists 13 categories.[2] On forms you may see SLD (specific learning disability), OHI (other health impairment), ED (emotional disturbance), ID (intellectual disability), SLI (speech or language impairment), TBI (traumatic brain injury), DD (developmental delay), VI and HI for vision and hearing. ASD stands for autism spectrum disorder, listed in IDEA simply as autism. The guide to the 13 categories of special education explains each one.
An example, decoded
This is a fictional sentence of the kind a parent might hear:
In plain words: The school's testing found that Ben has a specific learning disability in reading. Right now he reads 48 words correctly in one minute. The team wants to give him 150 minutes a week of specially designed reading teaching in a small room, which means a little less time in his regular class. The school will send a letter explaining that change, plus the written plan, within a week.
Acronyms that get mixed up
| Often confused | The difference |
|---|---|
| IEP vs IFSP | IEP is for ages 3 to 21 under Part B. IFSP is for babies and toddlers under Part C and focuses on the family. |
| IEP vs 504 plan | IEP adds special teaching under IDEA; a 504 plan gives access under civil rights law. See IEP vs 504. |
| FIE vs IEE | FIE is the school's own evaluation. IEE is done by someone outside the school. |
| FBA vs BIP | FBA finds the reason for a behavior. BIP is the plan that uses that reason. |
| PLAAFP vs PLOP | Same section. PLOP is an older or shorter name. |
| PWN vs procedural safeguards | PWN explains one decision. The procedural safeguards notice lists all your rights. |
| ESY vs summer school | ESY is an IEP service based on your child's needs. Summer school is a general program. |
| SDI vs related services | SDI is the teaching itself. Related services like speech or OT help your child benefit from it. |
How to use this page at a meeting
You can stop anyone at an IEP meeting and ask, "What does that stand for?" Teams are used to it. Some parents bring a printout and tick each acronym as it comes up. To read the whole document with these terms in hand, try how to read an IEP. For the full list of required parts, see what should be included in an IEP.
State forms add their own short forms, so ask your district for its list too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PLAAFP and PLOP?
They name the same IEP section: your child's present levels. PLAAFP is the term that follows the federal wording, present levels of academic achievement and functional performance. PLOP, present levels of performance, is an older or shorter name some states and schools still use.
What does LEA mean on an IEP?
LEA stands for local education agency, which usually means the school district. The LEA representative on the IEP team is the person who knows what the district offers and can commit its resources.
Is it okay to ask what an acronym means during a meeting?
Yes. You are a member of the IEP team, and the team needs you to understand the plan. Ask as often as you need, or ask the case manager to spell out acronyms in the written IEP.
Use it in IEP Atlas
- IEP glossary
- IEP in the IEP glossary
- FAPE in the IEP glossary
- LRE in the IEP glossary
- PLAAFP in the IEP glossary
Related guides
- What is an IEP? A plain guide to the plan and what is in it
- IEP vs 504 plan: differences, examples and how to choose
- What should be included in an IEP: a printable checklist
- How to read an IEP, section by section
- IEP template: an annotated sample IEP
Sources
- 34 CFR Part 300: Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities, eCFR (National Archives)
- 34 CFR §300.8: Child with a disability, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.320: Definition of individualized education program, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.17: Free appropriate public education, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- 34 CFR §300.114: LRE requirements, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.