An Educator, Parent, and Panel Member Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations and Definitions
TAESE

As you participate in the special education process, you will also encounter an unfamiliar language. The language is often referred to as 'acronyms'. It may seem like a foreign language, but it is really just a language of initials. These initials are explained and defined in this booklet.
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Early Childhood Special Education Services for Children ages 3 through 5 Residing on a Reservation
NDDPI

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to professionals who are providing special education services for children ages 3 through 5 who reside on a reservation in ND.
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Engaging Parents In Productive Partnerships
CADRE

Engaging Parents in Productive Partnerships is an easy-to-read presentation of suggestions on how educators and service providers can effectively collaborate with parents including specific recommendations for IEP meetings.
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Essential Features Checklist
Pathfinder Services of ND

This document offers a checklist of several IEP elements, including present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, annual goals, and short-term objectives.
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Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Understood

Students with disabilities have a legal right to a free appropriate public education (called FAPE). The right is guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This one-sheet from Understood explains what this important legal right means for students who need help in school.
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Functional Behavioral Assessment & Positive Behavior Intervention Plans Guide
NDDPI

This document provides guidelines to assist in completing a functional behavior assessment using requirements set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 1997/2004). This document provides the information, tools, forms, and examples that will allow educators to conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) in various settings and develop a Positive Behavior Intervention Plan (PBIP) for the student that appropriately addresses problem behaviors.
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Grades, Transcripts, Diplomas, and Graduation for Students with Disabilities
NDDPI

This information comes from the ND Department of Public Instruction in regards to grades, transcripts, diplomas and graduation for students with disabilities.
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Guidelines: Educational Surrogate Parent
NDDPI

The Educational Surrogate Parent Guidelines (2007) provides information to assist school districts in developing and implementing a comprehensive educational surrogate parent program.
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Guidelines: Individual Education Program Planning Process
NDDPI

This resource was developed by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction to assist educators who are developing IEPs for students with disabilities.
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Home Education and Children with Disabilities
NDDPI

The purpose of this informational paper is to provide clarification of the issues surrounding students with disabilities whose parents choose to educate them through home education. All references to North Dakota statutes in this document are made to North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) effective August, 2016. References to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are to the most recent reauthorization of the Act, which was enacted by Congress in 2004.
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IEP Team Meeting Guide for Families
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

You are the expert on your child and a critical member of the individualized education program (IEP) team. In this role, it is essential that you understand the IEP and its parts, why the IEP is important, and the valuable role you play in creating the IEP. This resource includes information to consider before, during, and after the IEP meeting.
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IEP Tip Sheet for Parents: An Overview of the IEP
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet reviews the elements of the individualized education program (IEP) and the IEP development process.
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IEP Tip Sheet for Parents: The IEP Team
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet reviews the members of the individualized education program (IEP) team and their roles.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Dates, Frequency, Location, and Duration of Services
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet provides information about dates, frequency, location, and duration of services. It includes a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Explanation of Educational Setting
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet introduces and briefly defines educational settings that promote access to and progress in general education programming and provides tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Measurable Annual Goals
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet introduces information about developing measurable annual goals. It includes a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Measuring Progress Toward Annual Goals
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet discusses measuring progress toward annual goals. It provides a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Overview of the Statement of Services & Aids
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet introduces and provides an overview of the statement of special education, related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications that are part of the individualized education program (IEP). It also includes a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: Participation in Assessment
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet provides information about participation in assessment and accommodations for assessments. It includes a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: PLAAFPs
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet introduces the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance statement, or PLAAFP. It includes a brief summary of federal regulations and tips for implementation.
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IEP Tip Sheet: What are Supplementary Aids & Services?
PROGRESS Center at American Institutes for Research

This tip sheet introduces and briefly defines supplementary aids and services that promote access to and progress in general education programming and provides tips for implementation. This is one of four tip sheets in a collection of the statement of services and aids in the individualized education program. The overview tip sheet provides a summary of the complete statement.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Discipline Regulations for Students with Disabilities
NDDPI

This information comes from the ND Department of Public Instruction on the discipline regulations for students with disabilities. Also contains information regarding manifestation determination, students removed for 10 days or less, long term removal (more than cumulative 10 days); and change of placement.
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My IEP Agenda
Pathfinder Services of ND

A handy guide for students to fill out about their IEP agenda.
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Parent Guide to Special Education
NDDPI

The ND Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) has written this guide for parents to answer questions you may have as you begin to take part in the special education process in North Dakota. It was prepared to help parents have a solid understanding about how the special education process works in the schools of our state. It was also written so that parents can have an additional source of information about their procedural safeguards, sometimes referred to as parent rights.
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Parent Guide to Special Education (Large Print Edition)
NDDPI

This is the large print version of the NDDPI Parent Guide to Special Education. ND Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) has written this guide for parents to answer questions you may have as you begin to take part in the special education process in North Dakota. It was prepared to help parents have a solid understanding about how the special education process works in the schools of our state. It was also written so that parents can have an additional source of information about their procedural safeguards, sometimes referred to as parent rights.
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Parenting Corner - Be Active In Your Child's Special Education! (Elementary School Edition)
Channing Bete

This engaging resource is the perfect way to teach parents about special education and how they can help their child succeed. Easy-reading text helps parents understand key special education terms, parents' role in the evaluation process, parental rights, the importance of teamwork and networking, and how individualized education programs (IEPs) work. Magazine encourages parents to be actively involved in their child's education, and provides answers to commonly asked questions related to special education.
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Positive Behavior Support
TACSEI

Created as a "take-away" tool to accompany the TACSEI Six Steps of PBS (Positive Behavior Support) learning modules, this Word document is a complete reference that outlines the entire PBS process. For your convenience, this comprehensive reference also includes links to all the forms, information sheets and worksheets described in the learning modules as well as websites and resources in easy-to-access sections at the end of the document.
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Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Channing Bete

This easy-reading booklet is a great educational resource for anyone looking to teach parents about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS/PBS). Booklet explains how PBIS works, the different levels of intervention involved, the role of staff, how parents can help, and more!
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Questions and Answers on Serving Children with Disabilities Eligible for Transportation
OSERS

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) issued this Q&A document to provide state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), parents, advocacy organizations, and other interested parties with information regarding the requirements for serving children with disabilities eligible for transportation.
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Schoolwide Title I Programs: Keeping Tabs on Parent and Family Engagement
Channing Bete

This guide helps parents understand what a schoolwide Title I program is, how it works, its benefits, and why more schools are choosing this option. It emphasizes that parents and families play a key role, and encourages their involvement in promoting at-home learning. Also answers common questions and provides additional sources of information. Tabbed table of contents lets readers flip right to the information they need.
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Special Education Directory - North Dakota 2024-2025
NDDPI

This resource from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction provides contact information for special education units across the state, various personnel and boards, and schools participating in special education units.
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Special Education Process Pocket Guide
Pathfinder Services of ND

This handy folded guide easily fits into a pocket, folder, or purse. It contains quick tips and information on the special education process in North Dakota, including important terms and acronyms. The inside details the ten steps of the special education process.
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Starting High School: Keeping Tabs on Your First Year and Beyond
Channing Bete

This guide helps teens understand what to expect when they begin high school so that they'll be in a better position to succeed! Guide includes information on setting goals, getting organized, studying and test-taking, and building a healthy social life. Also notes where to turn for help, if needed.
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Student Led IEP Directions
Pathfinder Services of ND

This handout explains the steps involved in a student-led IEP.
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The 13 Disability Categories Under IDEA
Pathfinder Services of ND

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that public schools provide special education and related services to eligible students. When kids are eligible, the next step is creating an Individualized Education Program (IEP). A child’s school performance must be adversely affected by a disability to qualify in one of 13 categories. This handout defines these categories.
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The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Pathfinder Services of ND

This one sheet handout discusses the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
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The Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team
Pathfinder Services of ND

This one sheet handout from our Early Intervention series covers the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
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Tips for Engaging Your Child in the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Pathfinder Services of ND

There are many benefits for students who actively participate in their IEP process. However, current research indicates that only 10% of students are actively engaged and take a leadership role in this process. For most students, this process can be overwhelming, but it is important that they are involved. This document offers tips to assist parents on how they can engage their children in the IEP process.
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Title I - Improving Your Child's Education
Channing Bete

This pamphlet explains how Title I works, how it benefits children, and ways in which parents can become involved. Also urges families to be aware of their rights.
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Transition from Elementary School to Middle School
Pathfinder Services of ND

This resource provides tips for parents to prepare for their child's move from elementary school to middle school.
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Transition from Middle School to High School
Pathfinder Services of ND

This resource provides tips for parents to prepare for their child's move from middle school to high school.
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Transportation and Children Who Have Disabilities
PACER

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes transportation within its definition of 'related services'. This means that students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) have the right to receive special transportation services if it is needed.
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Transportation as a Related Service in the IEP
NDDPI

This informational paper from NDDPI provides information about Transportation as a Related Service in the IEP.
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Understanding IDEA And Section 504: A Guide for Parents of Children with Disabilities
Channing Bete

The handout clearly outlines the benefits of these two important laws, who can receive services, how to determine eligibility, and parents' rights and responsibilities.
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Understanding Special Education Under ESSA, IDEA & Section 504: A Parent's Handbook
Channing Bete

Easy-reading guide empowers parents to advocate for their children and work with school personnel to get their children the services they need to realize their full potential. Includes straightforward answers to commonly asked questions, tips for encouraging one's child in school, an education glossary, and sources of additional information. Fill-in sections, worksheets, and other interactive features make handbooks ideal for ongoing reference.
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Understanding the Common Core State Standards: Grades 6-8: A Parent's Handbook
Channing Bete

This clear and concise resource helps parents of students in grades 6-8 understand the Common Core State Standards and support their child's academic success. Interactive features present an overview of the Common Core, counter misconceptions, and provide grade-by-grade details of English language arts and math standards. Also covers Common Core assessment, provides test-taking tips, and helps families overcome anxiety.
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Understanding the Common Core State Standards: Grades 9-12: A Parent's Handbook
Channing Bete

This interactive handbook helps parents of students in grades 9-12 understand the Common Core State Standards and support their child's academic success. Easy-to-understand pages explain the goals for the knowledge and skills their child will be taught, counter misconceptions, and provide grade-by-grade details of English language arts and math standards. Also covers Common Core assessment, provides test-taking tips, and helps families overcome obstacles.
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Understanding the Common Core State Standards: Grades K-5: A Parent's Handbook
Channing Bete

This reassuring handbook helps parents understand how Common Core State Standards will improve the quality of their child's education. Insightful sections present an overview of Common Core, counter common misconceptions, and provide grade-by-grade details on English language arts and math standards. Also explains the role of testing, answers common questions, encourages taking an active role, and offers valuable tips on supporting young students.
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Your Child and Common Core Assessments
Channing Bete

This booklet explains about Common Core State Standards and how they affect your child.
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Your Guide to Special Education & Your Child
Channing Bete

This guide can help you make a difference in your child's education. Special education laws are complex. But with the help of this guide, you'll understand each law and how it may affect your child. You'll learn who is eligible for services and how children are tested, too.
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Categories of Disabilities Under IDEA
CPIR

The nation's special education law is called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. As part of making special education and related services available to children with disabilities in the public schools, IDEA defines the term "child with a disability." That definition includes specific disability terms, which are also defined by IDEA, as this webpage describes.
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Communicating with Your Child's School Through Letter Writing
CPIR

Throughout your child's school years, there is always a need to communicate with the school's teachers, administrators, and others concerned with your child's education. Letters (including emails) provide both you and the school with a record of ideas, concerns, and suggestions. This Parent's Guide will help you in writing to the professionals involved in your child's special education.
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Developing Your Child's IEP
CPIR

Your child's education is most likely an area of great interest to you. As a child with a disability, he or she may be eligible for special education services in school. If so, this guide can help you learn what you need to know. It explains the basics of the special education process and gives you information on how to be an effective partner with your child's school.
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IEP Boot Camp: Getting Ready for Your Child's IEP Meeting
Understood

Your child's next IEP meeting is scheduled. So how can you prepare for it? Use this collection of downloadable tips, tools and checklists to get organized.
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Manifestation Determination in School Discipline
CPIR

At specific times, and for certain violations of the student code of conduct, IDEA's discipline procedures require school systems to conduct what is known as a 'manifestation determination review'. This fact sheet from CPIR provides more information.
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Parent to Parent Support
CPIR

Parent to Parent is a program that provides information and one-to-one emotional support to parents of children who have special needs.
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Q & A on IDEA 2004: Purposes and Key Definitions
CPIR

What is special education? What are related services? Who's considered a “child with a disability?” This Q&A is designed to answer these questions—looking in detail at the mandates and requirements of our nation's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended in 2004.
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Questions and Answers About IDEA: Parent Participation
CPIR

How does IDEA ensure that families have meaningful opportunities to participate? That is the focus of this Q&A—the solid foundation IDEA provides for parental involvement.
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Questions Often Asked by Parents about Special Education Services
CPIR

Read this publication if you want to know: How to have your child evaluated (at no cost to you) to see why he or she is having difficulty in school; what the evaluation process involves and how you can contribute to it; how special education can support your child's learning, if he or she is found eligible for services; how your child's eligibility is determined and your right to participate in making that decision; and what happens next, if your child is found eligible.
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Requesting a Meeting to Review Your Child's IEP
CPIR

This short publication from CPIR comes from a much longer Parent's Guide that focuses on communicating with your child's school via letter writing. There are times when you, as a parent, may want to communicate in writing with your child's school about some problem or concern with your child's education or well-being.
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School Discipline: A Resource Collection
CPIR

IDEA, our nation's special education law, provides the frame for how students with disabilities may be (and may not be) disciplined at school for violating a code of student conduct. IDEA's rules are complex and multi-faceted, so it's very important to use authoritative resources on the subject of school discipline. In this resource collection, you'll find articles, federal guidance, good reads, webinars, presentations and slideshows, and webpages offering additional information.
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What Is and Isn't Covered Under FAPE
Understood

In this article from Understood, find out what FAPE requires schools to do (and what it doesn't require schools to do) for kids who qualify for special education services.
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When the IEP Team Meets
CPIR

This article describes how the IEP meeting is scheduled, who comes, and the special factors that team members must consider when writing an IEP.
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Building an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Part 1: The Bricks and Mortar of the IEP Process
Pathfinder Services of ND

Building an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a two part webinar series for parents and professionals who are participating in the IEP planning process. This webinar series will provide the basic tools to build an IEP that will ensure that an individual with a disability will have an appropriate educational program to accommodate their unique needs. Part 1, The Bricks and Mortar of the IEP Process, will provide parents and professionals information relating to key IEP timelines, the qualifications of individuals required to attend the IEP meeting, and ideas to assist in getting ready for the IEP meeting.
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Building an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Part 2: Individualized Education Program (IEP): The Blueprint
Pathfinder Services of ND

Building an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a two part webinar series for parents and professionals who are participating in the IEP planning process. This webinar series will provide the basic tools to build an IEP that will ensure that an individual with a disability will have an appropriate educational program to accommodate their unique needs. Part 2, Individualized Education Program (IEP): The Blueprint, provides an overview of the purposes of the IEP planning process, including a description of the main components of a comprehensive IEP.
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Compensatory Education Services - Pathfinder Shortcuts Webinar
Pathfinder Services of ND

Compensatory Education Services is part of our Pathfinder Shortcuts webinar series. The webinars in this series are designed to be short (under 10 minutes) overviews of different topics for those who want an introduction to a topic, a summary of important details, or a quick refresher. This PSND Shortcut will give you a brief overview of Compensatory Education Services and why they are important.
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FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education) - Pathfinder Shortcuts Webinar
Pathfinder Services of ND

FAPE is part of our Pathfinder Shortcuts webinar series. The webinars in this series are designed to be short (under 10 minutes) overviews of different topics for those who want an introduction to a topic, a summary of important details, or a quick refresher. This PSND Shortcut will give you a brief overview of Free and Appropriate Public Education.
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Individualized Education Program (IEP) - Pathfinder Shortcuts Webinar
Pathfinder Services of ND

Individualized Education Program (IEP) is part of our Pathfinder Shortcuts webinar series. The webinars in this series are designed to be short (under 10 minutes) overviews of different topics for those who want an introduction to a topic, a summary of important details, or a quick refresher. This PSND Shortcut is a quick overview of the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
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Special Education - Pathfinder Shortcuts Webinar
Pathfinder Services of ND

Special Education is part of our Pathfinder Shortcuts webinar series. The webinars in this series are designed to be short (under 10 minutes) overviews of different topics for those who want an introduction to a topic, a summary of important details, or a quick refresher. This Shortcut will cover the steps in the Special Education process and lists additional resources to help you in your journey.
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Student Led Individualized Education Program
Pathfinder Services of ND

This webinar provides an overview of how students with disabilities can become more involved in the their education with a Student Led Individualized Education Program, or SLIEP.
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The Top 10 Basics of the Special Education Process
Pathfinder Services of ND

Are you are a parent or an educator new to the special education process implemented in ND schools? This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the basic steps in the special education process from referral to IEP review.
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IDEAs That Work

This website is designed to provide easy access to information from research to practice initiatives funded by OSEP that address the provisions of IDEA and ESSA.
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ND Insights

ND Insights is the state's official source for information about public education across North Dakota. The information is provided by partner agencies through the Statewide Longitudinal Data System and is brought about through the collaborative work efforts of the following North Dakota agencies: Department of Public Instruction, Career and Technical Education, ND University System, Job Service ND, Department of Commerce, school districts, and work force development programs. This site provides information and statistics on ND public schools and districts.
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OSEP English to Spanish Translation Glossary

This 2nd Edition of the OSEP Glossary of Spanish Translations of Common IDEA Terms includes over 400 terms related to IDEA Parts B and C. These terms were selected by experienced translators from parent centers who worked with families with children with disabilities representing the majority of Spanish speaking cultures in Latin America and Spain.
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U.S. Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Website

U.S. Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website brings together IDEA information and resources from the Department and their grantees. Whether you are a student, parent, educator, service provider, or grantee, this site is anyone who cares about children with disabilities and their families and wants to find information and explore resources on infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilitie<span style="font-size: 12.16px;">s.</span>
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ND Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

NDDPI is a recognized and respected leader in providing a system of support to schools to ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential and become life-long learners. Their mission is to partner with schools and communities to provide a statewide system of excellent service and support to ensure a healthy school environment that fosters student success.
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