Alternative Assessment: An alternative assessment procedure when district or statewide assessments are inappropriate for a specific child with a disability.

Annual Goal: In each area of a child's unique need, a statement of the child can be expected to accomplish within a year if appropriate special education and related services are provided.

Antecedent: Those events that occur immediately (the "triggers") before a student engages in a targeted behavior. For example, if Angela always slams her book closed and ignores the teacher when asked to translate a paragraph in French class, the antecedent is the teacher's request that Angela translate a paragraph.

Behavior Intervention Plan: BIP: A plan, required by IDEA whenever an IDEA-eligible student has behaviors which impede his or her own learning or that of others. The BIP must identify the targeted behavior, describe the behavior precisely, and detail the procedures and consequences to be used whenever the student engages in the targeted behavior.

BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan: A plan, required by IDEA whenever an IDEA-eligible student has behaviors which impede his or her own learning or that of others. The BIP must identify the targeted behavior, describe the behavior precisely, and detail the procedures and consequences to be used whenever the student engages in the targeted behavior.

ESY: Extended School Year: Some children with disabilities qualify for special education and related services which go beyond the traditional 9 month school year. The IEP team is responsible for determining whether or not a child with a disability needs ESY.

Extended School Year: ESY: Some children with disabilities qualify for special education and related services which go beyond the traditional 9 month school year. The IEP team is responsible for determining whether or not a child with a disability needs ESY.

FAPE: Free, Appropriate Public Education: FAPE is legally defined as an individualized education which is reasonably calculated to allow a child with a disability to receive educational benefit. FAPE must be available at no cost to the parents and must be developed and delivered in accordance with the procedures required by IDEA.

Free, Appropriate Public Education: FAPE is legally defined as an individualized education which is reasonably calculated to allow a child with a disability to receive educational benefit. FAPE must be available at no cost to the parents and must be developed and delivered in accordance with the procedures required by IDEA.

IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: First passed in 1975 and revised several times since then, IDEA is the major federal statute which gives children with disabilities the right to a free, appropriate public education.

IEP: Individualized Education Program: An individually designed and written education plan for a child with a disability who qualifies for special education and related services under IDEA.

Individualized Education Program: IEP: An individually designed and written education plan for a child with a disability who qualifies for special education and related services under IDEA.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: IDEA: First passed in 1975 and revised several times since then, IDEA is the major federal statute which gives children with disabilities the right to a free, appropriate public education.

Manifestation Determination: When a child with a disability engages in misconduct that could result in suspension or expulsion, the IEP team must make a determination of whether the child's disability is related to the misconduct. This determination is called the "Manifestation Determination".

Measuring Stick Approach: A simple, effective approach to assessing a child's progress on IEP goals and objectives.

Methodology: The specific teaching method that will be used with a student with a disability. Some examples of common teaching methods are Direct Instruction, Whole Language Instruction, the Lovaas Method.

Objectives/Benchmarks: Often used interchangeably, these terms refer to measurable, intermediate steps that enable parents, students, and educators to monitor a child's progress toward annual goals throughout the year.

PLOP: Present Level of Educational Performance: A statement which must be included on a child's IEP which describes how the child's disability affects the child's involvement and progress in the general curriculum. PLOPs should deal with all areas of education (e.g., academic, daily life activities, mobility) that are affected by the child's disability.

Present Level of Educational Performance: PLOP: A statement which must be included on a child's IEP which describes how the child's disability affects the child's involvement and progress in the general curriculum. PLOPs should deal with all areas of education (e.g., academic, daily life activities, mobility) that are affected by the child's disability.

Procedural Errors: Errors which occur when required IDEA procedures are not followed. For example, failure to provide parents with written notice about an IEP meeting would be a procedural error.

Special Education: Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Special education may include instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings.

Substantive Errors: Errors which occur when the IEP fails to offer the quantity or qualify of services required to provide FAPE to an IDEA-eligible child. For example, not providing a necessary related service would be a substantive error.

Transition Services: Those services designed to assist a student with a disability to successfully transition from high school to the adult world. Transition services include such things as vocational training, training in how to use public transportation, and assistance from an adult service agency to obtain low-cost housing.

Unique Needs: A child's educational needs which are due to the child's disability and which are unique to that child. Services provided under IDEA are to be based on a child's unique needs.