What is Educational Benefit?
Educational benefit is defined as a student progress on IEP goals and/ or general education standards.
Understanding Educational Benefit in IEPs
Schools create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) to provide a reasonable educational benefit to students with disabilities. However, what’s written in an IEP may not always be the best fit for your child.
How Is Educational Benefit Determined?
Expatiate Communications considers several factors when evaluating if an IEP truly benefits a student, including:
✅ Student-Centered Information
- Are the student’s strengths, preferences, and interests clearly identified, including data from home?
- Are parent concerns acknowledged and addressed?
✅ Present Levels of Performance (PLAAFP)
- Does the IEP fully describe the student’s academic and functional abilities?
- Does it include all needs identified in assessments?
- Does it reflect the student’s real performance in school?
✅ Assessment-Driven Decisions
- Was assistive technology (AT) recommended based on the student’s specific disability?
- Were the needs identified through formal assessments with accurate and up-to-date data?
- Has the student been assessed within the year to determine English proficiency?
✅ Behavioral & Special Support Needs
- Does data indicate a need for a behavioral goal or a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)?
- Are positive behavior interventions and supports clearly defined?
- Does the student require specialized equipment, services, or materials for low-incidence disabilities?
- Has an appropriate professional evaluated the student’s needs for specialized services (e.g., visual or hearing impairments)?
Why Comprehensive Assessments Matter
- 📌 Students must be assessed in ALL areas of suspected disability—not just some.
- 📌 How do you know if your child was fully assessed? Reviewing formal assessments and IEP data is crucial.
For questions or support, securely email us.