If your child struggles with reading, spelling, or writing, you may have heard the letters IEP at a school meeting or from a teacher. For many families in the River Valley, it is the first big step toward getting the right help at school. This guide explains what an IEP is, what should be in it, and how it can work alongside tutoring.

What is an IEP?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan for a child who qualifies for special education services. It is created under a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The plan describes where your child is now, what the school will work on, and what help your child will get, such as specialized reading instruction, extra time, or support in the classroom.

An IEP is not a label that follows your child forever. It is a plan that the school team, including you, writes, reviews, and changes over time.

How common are IEPs?

More families go through this process than most people realize. In the 2022-23 school year, about 15.2% of U.S. public school students received special education services under IDEA. The figure was 16.3% in Arkansas and 17.2% in Oklahoma (NCES, 2022-23). Dyslexia is the most common learning disability; researchers estimate it affects about 1 in 5 people (Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity).

Does dyslexia or dysgraphia qualify for an IEP?

It can. Federal law includes dyslexia in its definition of a “specific learning disability,” and difficulty with written expression, which is how dysgraphia often shows up in school, is another area schools evaluate. A diagnosis alone does not guarantee an IEP, though. The school must find that the disability affects your child’s learning and that your child needs specially designed instruction. That decision comes from an evaluation.

You can ask for an evaluation at any time. Put the request in writing (a dated letter or email), name your concerns, and keep a copy.

Not sure yet whether your child’s struggles point to dyslexia? Our Signs of Dyslexia by Age checklist can help you spot patterns to bring to the school.

What should be in an IEP?

Present levels of performance: where your child is right now, in plain numbers and examples. For example, how many words per minute your child reads, or how accurately they spell.
Measurable annual goals: what your child should be able to do in a year, and how progress will be measured.
Services: what kind of help, how often, how long, and who provides it.
Accommodations and modifications: changes such as extra time, audio books, speech-to-text, or reduced writing load. Accommodations change how your child learns; modifications change what is expected.
Progress reports: how and when you will hear about progress toward each goal.
Testing and transition: how your child takes state tests, and planning for life after high school once your child is older (federal law requires this by age 16).

Your place on the team

Parents are full members of the IEP team. The school must invite you, give you notice of meetings, and ask for your consent before starting services for the first time. After an evaluation, ask for a copy of the report before the meeting so you have time to read it. Schools review IEPs at least once a year, and children are generally re-evaluated at least every three years, although you can request a review sooner if something is not working.

Questions to ask at the IEP meeting

What data shows where my child is starting from today?
How will each goal be measured, and how often?
Who will teach my child, what program or method will they use, and how many minutes a week?
Is the reading program structured, systematic, and phonics-based? Is the teacher trained in it?
Which accommodations will my child use in class and on tests?
How will I be told if my child is not making progress?
If I disagree with something, what are my options?

Warning signs in an IEP goal

Look out for goals that are vague, such as “Student will improve reading skills,” with no starting point and no way to measure it. A strong goal names the skill, the starting level, the target, and how it will be measured, for example: “By May, Sam will read a grade-level passage aloud at 90 words per minute with 95% accuracy on three out of four checks.”

How tutoring fits with an IEP

Private tutoring does not replace what the school is required to provide, and a school IEP does not replace one-on-one work with a trained tutor. Many families use both. At KC Tutoring, we use the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton Reading Program, structured, multisensory methods for children with dyslexia. Sharing a copy of the current IEP and recent progress reports can help a tutor line up practice with what your child is working on at school.

Where to get help

Questions about reading, writing, or your child’s next step?

KC Tutoring is locally owned and operated, offering dyslexia and dysgraphia tutoring for families across the River Valley. If you are working through an IEP and want to talk about how tutoring could support it, send us a request and we will get back to you.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and school district, and every child’s situation is different. For advice about your child’s rights, contact your state’s parent center or an education attorney.

IEPs Explained: A Parent Guide for Arkansas and Oklahoma Families