Individual and Small Group Instruction (Preschoolers only) - Instruction delivered one-to-one or in a small group as specified in an IEP enabling the individual(s) to participate effectively in the total school program.  

Individualized Educational Program (IEP) - The Individual Education Plan is a document that is developed for each child who is found eligible for Special Education services. The IEP is developed in accordance with state and federal laws as well as specific procedural requirements such as timelines and notification requirements.

Individualized Education Program Team - is composed of an administrator or his/her designee, the student's teacher, and the parents.  Other members may include the student, other individuals selected by the parent or the IEP chairperson, and those who have conducted assessment on the student.

Individual Transition Plan - a plan written with graduating students and their families to facilitate appropriate adult life post-school options.

Intensive Individualized Instruction - Student requires additional support for all or part of the day. (Usually for additional paraprofessional support.)

Language and Speech - Remedial intervention for eligible individuals with difficulty understanding or using spoken language. Services may include specialized instruction and services, monitoring, reviewing, and consultation. They may be direct or indirect including the use of a speech consultant.

Least Restrictive Environment - Special Education services are provided in as close proximity to regular school programs as is educationally appropriate for each individual child.

Special Education - "Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of individuals with exceptional needs, whose educational needs cannot be met with modification of the regular instruction program, and related services, at no cost to the parent, that may be needed to assist these individuals to benefit from specially designed instruction. Special education is an integral part of the total public education system and provides education in a manner that promotes maximum interaction between children or youth with disabilities and children or youth who are not disabled, in a manner that is appropriate to the needs of both. Special education provides a full continuum of program options, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and instruction in physical education, to meet the educational and service needs of individuals with exceptional needs in the least restrictive environment. Individuals with exceptional needs shall be grouped for instructional purposes according to their instructional needs."

Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) - School districts organized within a geographic area in accordance with the law to coordinate the administration and delivery of Special Education services.

Specialized Academic Instruction - Adapting the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction to ensure that children receiving special education services retain appropriately specified access to the general curriculum.  The particular subjects, duration, and location of general education exposure are individually tailored for each special education student, based on their specific needs and the services they are receiving, and thus, may vary greatly between students.

SPECIAL ED ACRONYMS
A	Autistic	FERPA	Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
AB 3632	Mental Health Services by CMH	HI	Hearing impaired
ABA	Applied Behavior Analysis	IBI	Intensive Behavior Intervention
ADA	Average Daily Attendance	IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
ADD	Attention Deficit Disorder	IEP	Individualized Education Program
ADHD	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder	IEP TEAM	Individualized Education Program Team
AR	Annual Review	IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan
ASD	Autistic Spectrum Disorder	ISP	Individual Service Plan
AUT	Autism	ITP	Individual Transition Plan
CAA	Certified Application Assistant	LEA	Local Education Agency
CAPA	California Alternate Performance Assessment	LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
CAHSEE	California High School Exit Exam	MH	Multihandicapped  (preschool only)
CASEMIS	California Special Education Management Information System	NCLB	No Child Left Behind
CCS	California Children’s Services	NON-CAT	Non-Categorical
CDS	Community Day School	NPA	Non-Public Agency
CELDT	California English Language Development Test	NPS	Non Public School
CMA	California Modified Assessment	OHI	Other Health Impaired
CDE	California Department of Education	OI	Orthopedically Impaired
CMH	Community Memorial Hospital	OT	Occupational Therapy
CST	California State Testing	PT	Physical Therapy
CWA	Child Welfare and Attendance	RTI	Response to Intervention
D/HH	Deaf/Hard of Hearing	RSP	Resource Program
DIS	Designated Instruction	SAI	Specialized Academic Instruction
DB	Deaf-Blind	SARB	School Attendance Review Board
DRDP	Desired Results Developmental Profile	SDC	Special Day Class
ED	Emotionally Disturbed	SELPA	Special Education Local Plan Area
EIC	Early Intervention Center	SLD	Specific Learning Disabled
EMD	Established Medical Disability	SLI	Speech/Language Impaired
EL	English Learner	SLP	Speech/Language Pathologist
ELA	English Language Arts	SSID	Statewide Student Identifier
ESL	English as a Second Language	SST	Student Study Team
ESY	Extended School Year	STAR	Standardized Testing & Reporting
FAA	Functional Analysis Assessment	TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
FBA	Functional Behavior Assessment	VI	Visually Impaired