BenchmarkAssessment Description

Families of students from birth to age 8 are often unfamiliar with the IEP process and can be unsure of what to expect. Once a child has been referred, one of the primary responsibilities of early childhood teachers is guiding, directing, and collaborating with families through the IEP process. Clearly articulating the steps in the IEP process can foster collaboration to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to fully engage in the process, offer input, and meet the unique needs of the student.

Create a 3-5 minute narrated digital presentation that could be posted on the school or district website as an informational resource for families who are new to the IEP process. You may refer to the Topics 1-5 assignments to inform the content of the video. The presentation should use family-friendly language and address the following:

• Describe the IEP and referral process, including legal requirements of IDEA. Identify the disability categories and how special education eligibility is determined.
• Discuss the required members of the IEP team, the expertise of each member, the importance of collaboration among the team, effective teaming and professional communication strategies that can be employed.
• Explain how the CEC “Special Education Professional Ethical Principles,” guide collaboration and execution of the IEP process. Provide an example of how the family and student can be involved.
• Discuss how families and other IEP team members collaborate to use assessment data to determine eligibility and identification of students with exceptionalities, including medical conditions.
• Outline the major components of the IEP and what type of information is included in each. Discuss how all of the information in the IEP needs to be aligned to meet the needs of the student.

Remember that video and audio quality are important and should be taken into consideration. Ensure your video is filmed with sufficient lighting and that the volume is adequate for viewers to hear. Intonation, expression, proper speech, and professional attire are expected.

Refer to "Recording, Editing, and Uploading a Video or Podcast" and use an online video platform such as Zoom, Loom, YouTube, or Vimeo to upload your completed video. If you upload your video to YouTube, select the “unlisted” option.

Submit the link to the video in a Word document. Ensure that others can access and view the link to your video prior to submission.

While APA style format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.