How to Read an IEP: Student Demographics & Background Information
A State-by-State Guide to Reading Student Demographics & Background Information IEP Sections
Understanding the Student Demographics & Background Information Section of an IEP
What is it the background section of an IEP?
One thing that all IEPs have to have is some basic information about a student. That includes the student’s name, the school they attend, their parents’ names, the students’ home language, their date of birth, and the IEP meeting date. In almost all IEPs, this cover page will also include the date of the last IEP and the date of the last evaluation or when the next evaluation is due. In many, it includes a check box for what type of IEP meeting you are having– an amendment, an annual, or a re-evaluation.
Many districts and states also put the qualifying disabilities here. That is, it states what the primary educational disability is and if there are any secondary or tertiary disabilities. A quick glance at the front page will often tell you if a student is getting supports for Autism, a specific learning disability, or something else. The disability is more fully explained later in the IEP in the disability statement, but you can often see the category here.
Where is it the background section found in an IEP?
This is always on the front page of the IEP. I can’t find an IEP example where this isn’t true– it is normally right at the top of the front page.
How do background sections vary across states and districts?
Sometimes this section includes information on the type of IEP being held or on the date of the last evaluation. A few even include the disability statement here.
See the state-by-state examples below!
The background section of an IEP is the hardest to mess up! This is the boring stuff– sometimes parents will be asked to check and make sure their address is right but generally this is information to skim! However, if there is information on IEP dates, check to see if your meeting is on time or late– and when the next evaluation is. If you are in a district that puts a check box on the front page for the type of IEP, that can be helpful to know. More so at the meeting than afterwards, but I am reaching because the background information is the least interesting part of an IEP!
