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School: IEP & 504

What is an IEP? A plain-English guide for parents

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the legal document that describes the special education and services a public school must provide to your child. It comes from a federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so it exists in every state.

Updated · 3 min read

Who qualifies

To get an IEP, your child must be evaluated and found to have a disability in one of the categories listed by IDEA (for example specific learning disability, autism, speech or language impairment, other health impairment, which often covers ADHD) and need specialized instruction because of it.

If your child has a disability but doesn't need specialized instruction, a 504 plan may be the better fit.

The main steps

  1. You (or the school) ask for an evaluation, ideally in writing.
  2. You sign consent, and the school evaluates within your state's timeline: 60 days in California, 45 school days in Texas, 60 school days in Florida (with some exceptions).
  3. The team meets to decide eligibility. In Texas, this team is called the ARD committee.
  4. If eligible, the team writes the IEP: present levels, annual goals, services, accommodations, placement.
  5. Services start once you give consent. The IEP is reviewed at least once a year, and your child is re-evaluated at least every three years.

Your rights as a parent

  • You are a full member of the IEP team.
  • You receive a copy of your procedural safeguards explaining your rights.
  • You can ask for an IEP meeting at any time, not just once a year.
  • If you disagree with the school's evaluation, you can request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at public expense.
  • You can disagree in writing and use mediation or due process if needed.

The process in Lumina

How Lumina helps, step by step

  1. 1

    Create an “IEP meeting” deadline

    Use the IEP meeting type for the annual review and another deadline for the three-year re-evaluation. Lumina shows the countdown on your binder's home screen.

  2. 2

    Add it to your phone's calendar

    “Add to my calendar (with reminders)” sets reminders 1 month and 1 week before, even when Lumina is closed.

  3. 3

    Keep every version of the IEP

    Upload the signed IEP, progress reports and evaluations to Documents (category School / IEP). Everything stays encrypted on your device.

  4. 4

    Log what really happens

    After calls, emails or incidents, add a School note. Before the annual review, your timeline shows what's working and what isn't.

  5. 5

    Bring a summary to the meeting

    In Summary, pick the period since the last IEP and the topics that matter, attach the latest evaluations, and send the PDF to the case manager.

Everything you write stays encrypted on your device: neither Lumina nor anyone else can read it.

Frequently asked questions

How often is an IEP reviewed?+

At least once a year at the annual review meeting, and your child must be re-evaluated at least every three years (unless you and the school agree it isn't needed). You can request a meeting sooner.

Do I have to sign the IEP at the meeting?+

You can take the draft home to read it before giving consent, and you can agree to parts and disagree with others in writing. Check your procedural safeguards for your state's exact rules.

Does Lumina send anything to the school?+

No. Lumina helps you organize and prepare. You decide what to send, when, and to whom.

Everything about your child's care, finally in one place

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This guide gives general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules and timelines vary by state and district and can change: check with your school district, your state agency or the official websites. Lumina is not a medical device.