How to Read an IEP: Missouri State IEP Guide

In Missouri the Code of State Regulations (5 CSR 20-300), statues (162.700; 162.705), and a state plan for special education outline protections and programming for the 119,000 students in the state with IEPs (13.9%). The regulations state that the state enacts and applies for IDEA funding and has sheltered workshops (5 CSR 20-300). The statutes outline child find and eligibility for younger children (162.700) and costs and the contracting of services (162.705). Everything else is in the state plan for special education, which includes everything from information on state run day schools for students with severe disabilities, to contents of an IEP, to caseload sizes. Caseload sizes range from 4 to 20 for teachers, with additional case load requirements and job descriptions for paraprofessionals and details on the number of instructional planning time minutes special education teachers should get. 

The state provides detailed guidance for IEP writing, including section by section compliance rubrics, prior written notice examples, and sample IEPs (Student A; B; C). The office of special education also has resources for paraprofessionals, including standards, a virtual learning platform, and career and technical training information for special needs students.

For parent resources, check out MPACT (Missouri Parents Act), Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services for legal advocacy, Missouri Family to Family for family-focused support, and the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council. Olmstead Rights provides a list of even more support organizations. 

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