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When my daughter initially showed difficulty in school?in grade two her reading was coming slowly and she had trouble writing letters and spelling words?one of the first of many, many acronyms we heard tossed about was ?IEP.? She?s our first-born, so we were completely new to the school system and had no idea what an IEP was or how it might benefit her. We soon learned that IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan and is a term used in many provinces (some provinces use names like Personalized Learning Plan, or PLP; Individualized Program Plan, or IPP; and Inclusion and Intervention Plan, or IIP). But knowing what the term stands for isn?t the same as understanding how it affects a kid?s school experience. I spoke to experts across the country to get a better handle on this piece of paper that?s meant to help my daughter learn. What is an IEP"

Canada?s education system is based on the principle of inclusion?that is, all students deserve opportunities to learn to their abilities in as conventional an environment as possible. In the past, kids with special education needs may have been bused to different schools or placed in separate programs within their local schools.
These days, though separate programs still exist, a student with special needs, including learning disabilities, can be taught in a regular classroom with the help of an IEP, which helps customize teaching methods for kids who learn differently. ?It?s a tool for any child who is struggl...