Introduction

Download the Process Guide PDF

The United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), has advised states that each Individualized Education Program (IEP) written on or after July 1, 2005, must comply with the Requirements of the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). The Maryland Statewide IEP released June 29, 2006, addresses that requirement. The Statewide IEP will also aid public agencies with data collection and provide service providers with a student educational services planning tool. Therefore, the State Department of Education has directed that all IEPs written for students in Maryland be completed on these forms.

Statewide IEP Implementation Timeline

The IEP is a written document that is developed for each eligible student with a disability who is to receive special education and related services. The federal regulations for IDEA specify, at 34 CFR §§300.320-300.328, the procedures that school districts must follow to develop, review, and revise the IEP for each student. The information contained within this document reflects content found in the resources listed below. Public agency personnel may refer to these documents for additional information to ensure appropriate procedures are followed:

• IDEA 2004, 20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq.
• IDEA federal regulations 34 C.F.R. §§300, et seq.
• Education Articles, §8-401— 415, Annotated Code of Maryland¹
• Proposed COMAR Amendments 13A.05.01 Provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education to Student with Disabilities²
• Proposed COMAR Amendments 13A.08.03 Discipline of Student with Disabilities³
• Maryland Accommodation Manual, October 2006
• Maryland Student Records Manual, 2006
• Maryland Online Special Services Information System, October 2006
   

¹The Maryland General Assembly may change State law. If changes are made to State law that would impact the student's IEP or IEP team decisions, the IEP Process Guide will be revised to reflect changes.
²Proposed COMAR Amendments will be presented at an open meeting of the Maryland State Board of Education for adoption on March 27, 2007. The IEP Process Guide will be revised to include applicable COMAR citations if the State Board of Education adopts the COMAR amendments.
³Proposed COMAR Amendments will be presented at an open meeting of the Maryland State Board of Education for adoption on March 27, 2007. The IEP Process Guide will be revised to include applicable COMAR citations if the State Board of Education adopts the COMAR amendments.