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Activities of Daily Living
Everyday skills a person needs to learn to
function, such as dressing, bathing, hygiene skills
and communication.

Adapted Physical Education
Physical education that has been modified to
meet the needs of children with disabilities.

Adaptive Equipment
Equipment or additions to equipment that
better enhance the ability of an individual with
special needs to function. See entry for “Assistive
Technology Device.”
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
The minimum levels of improvement, measurable
in terms of student performance, that schools
must achieve within time frames specified in the
No Child Left Behind Act.

Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
An impartial hearing officer who presides over
due process hearings in appeals under the IDEA.

May also mediate disagreements under the IDEA
when the parties have agreed to mediation.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A federal civil rights law that prohibits
discrimination against people with disabilities in
employment and public services as well as
public accommodations.

Annual Evaluation
The meeting conducted each year to evaluate
the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for a
child and the child’s family and, as appropriate, to
revise its provisions.

Annual Goal
Assistive Technology (AT)
The application of technology, engineering or
scientific principles to meet the needs of, and
address the barriers confronted by, individuals
with special needs.

Assistive Technology Device
An item, piece of equipment or product system,
whether acquired commercially, modified or
customized, that is used to increase, maintain or
improve functional capabilities of a person with
a disability.

Assistive Technology (AT) Services
A service that directly assists a child with a
disability in the selection, acquisition or use of an
assistive technology device.

Behavioral Intervention Plan
A proactive plan developed by the IEP team
to address a student’s behavior using positive
behavioral interventions, strategies and supports.

Case Manager
The person designated to coordinate all services
for a student with an IEP or for an infant or toddler
receiving early intervention services and that
child’s family. Also known as a service coordinator.

Child Find
A program to identify, locate and evaluate children
ages birth through 21 with disabilities who are in
need of early intervention or special education
and related services.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
The published regulations developed by U.S.

governmental agencies under federal statutes
such as the IDEA and ADA.

determine if a child has a disability and the type
of early intervention or special education and
related services the child needs.

Extended School Year (ESY) Services
An individualized extension of specific education
and related services to a child with a disability that
is provided beyond the normal school year at no
cost to the parents. These services are determined
by the child’s IEP team as being needed to provide
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA)
A federal law that sets rules about the privacy
and confidentiality of educational records, parent
access to educational records, parent amendment
of educational records and the destruction of
educational records.

Functional Behavioral Assessment
A process that examines a student’s behavior
and determines how to address the behavior
through the development of a specific Behavioral
Intervention Plan.

High School Assessment (HSA)
Academic exams required to be taken by public
high school students. Passing the HSA is a
requirement for receiving a Diploma.

Home and Hospital Teaching
Educational services provided to a child who
cannot attend school because of a temporary
physical or emotional condition as certified by
a physician, psychiatrist or certified school or
licensed psychologist.

IEP Meeting
Statement in an IEP that describes the anticipated
measurable progress that the child reasonably
can be expected to achieve in one year in each
area of identified need.

Developmental Delay
The presence of a condition or disability that
prevents a child from acquiring or demonstrating
skills within the expected age range.

A prearranged meeting of the IEP team
during which members of the team discuss
matters related to the identification, evaluation,
educational placement and the provision of FAPE
for a child with a disability.

Annual Review
Due Process Hearing
IEP Team
Yearly meeting of the IEP team to review a child’s
progress toward the goals and objectives in
the child’s current IEP, and to revise the IEP, as
appropriate, for the next year.

Appeal A written request for a change in a decision or to
make such a request.

Assessment 1. The process of collecting information to be used
by an IEP team to determine a child’s need for
special education and related services.

2. The procedures used to determine the early
intervention services needed by an eligible infant
or toddler and the child’s family.

A formal legal proceeding before an
administrative law judge who listens to both
sides of a dispute involving the IDEA and
renders a decision based upon the law, or a
similar proceeding before an impartial third
party in disputes involving Section 504 (a part
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits
discrimination based upon disability.)
Early Intervention (EI)
A system of services provided by public and
private agencies to support eligible children, birth
to age 3, and their families, to enhance a child’s
potential, growth and development.

Evaluation The process of reviewing information from
parents, data and assessment results to
The group of people, which includes a child’s
caregiver, responsible for identifying and
evaluating children ages 3-21 with disabilities;
developing, reviewing or revising IEPs and
determining the placement of students with a
disability in what’s called the least restrictive
environment (LRE.)
Inclusion Placing individuals with disabilities in age- or
grade-appropriate school or community settings
and activities with individuals without disabilities.

Independent Educational Evaluation
An assessment conducted by a qualified
professional who is not employed by the school
system responsible for the student’s education.

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