How to Read an IEP: Colorado State IEP Guide

The Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (1 CCR 301-8) spells out state regulations for the education of the approximately 95,000 students in the state with IEPs (~13% of enrollment; OSEP Annual Report to Congress). The state regulations build on IDEA with a focus on self-determination, family-centered practice, early transition planning (starting at 15, not 16), and services for twice-exceptional students (those identified as both gifted and disabled), and for gifted students that go beyond federal requirements. 

CDE’s Exceptional Student Services unit provides IEP guidance through its IEP resources page, including a Colorado blank IEP. The state website is well laid out and well indexed, with resources on everything from McKinney Vento laws protecting homeless students to traumatic brain injuries. Not all links work unfortunately and many go to general information sites rather than Colorado specific guidance– but the breadth of resources is impressive. One of the things that makes Colorado unique is the focus on special education directors. One of the big links on the CDE home page for special education is a find your special education director link, which matches what is in the frequently asked questions for parents, where the response to what to do if your child’s IEP is not being followed includes contacting the special education director.

For parent resources, there is a really helpful landing page from the CDE. The PEAK Parent Center is a nationally recognized parent training and information center with extensive Colorado-specific IEP advocacy guides and training resources for families and school staff. There is also the  Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and Disability Law Colorado offer advocacy support for IEP-related disputes.

To see what IEPs look like in Colorado– and guidance on how to read IEPs (and how to know if they are well written!), check out the IEP section guide below.