Collaboration to Determine Services
IEP Teams Are A Starting Point
Participants of an effective IEP team should be representative of the student's needs. According to federal law, Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members for an ELL with a disability must include:
- special educators
- general educators
- parents or guardians
- educational agency representatives (e.g., principals)
- the student when appropriate
- related service providers or other people as determined by the parents or educational agency.
“Other people” may include individuals with knowledge of the student’s second language learning needs. For example, English as a Second Language or bilingual teachers may participate. Others may also include translators or other individuals who can facilitate communication between the student’s parents and team members.
IEP teams with a variety of team members are better able to make appropriate decisions about how a student will participate in assessments, including decisions about alternate assessments and accommodations. Specifically, personnel who can address the student’s language learning needs (for example, ESL or bilingual teachers) are strongly recommended to participate in team decisions.
