The IEP is developed by a team that meets and discusses the relevant information about the child's strengths and needs. The team meets, critiques the assessment data accessible about the child, and plans an educational program to address the child’s educational needs that result from his or her disability. This team meets at least once a year.
Gibb and Dyches (2007) outline seven steps teams should employ in writing an IEP as listed within IDEA. This information includes, but is not exclusive to the child’s present levels of academic achievement and functional performance,. Knowing how the child is currently doing in school must be known before the team can set reasonable goals. The next step involves writing the annual goals for the child, meaning what parents and the school team think the child can accomplish in a year within reason, the special education and related services to be provided to the child, including secondary aids and services and modifications to the program , how much of the school day the child will be educated separately from non-disabled children or not take part in outside or other nonacademic activities, how the child is to take part in state and district-wide assessments, including what changes to tests the child needs, when services and modifications will begin, how often they will be provided, where they will be provided, and how long they will last, and how school personnel will measure the child’s progress toward the annual goals. After six steps have been accomplished the final step involves completing a transition plan for