An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a legal document in Ontario that sets out the educational program for a student with exceptional needs. It’s both a right and a tool — and understanding it is the first step to making it work for your child.
What Is an IEP?
Under Ontario’s Education Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code, school boards must identify students with exceptional needs and develop individual education plans that describe how the school will support that student’s learning. The IEP is not just a goal-setting document — it creates legal obligations on the school board.
Students who may have an IEP include those with: learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia), autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, giftedness, and other exceptional needs.
The IPRC Process
Before an IEP can be created, a student is usually identified through an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC). This committee determines:
- Whether the student is “exceptional” (has special education needs)
- What the exceptionality is (learning disability, autism, giftedness, etc.)
- What educational placement is appropriate (regular classroom with support, self-contained classroom, etc.)
You can request an IPRC meeting in writing. You don’t need to wait for the school to initiate it.
What a Strong IEP Includes
- Present level of performance: Where your child currently is academically, socially, and developmentally
- Annual program goals: What the student is expected to achieve within the year
- Learning expectations: Subject-specific accommodations or modifications to curriculum
- Accommodations: Changes to how your child learns (extended time on tests, use of a calculator, preferential seating, chunked assignments)
- Modifications: Changes to what your child is expected to learn (different curriculum expectations than grade level)
- Alternative expectations: For students following alternative programming
- Transition plans: For students 14+ or approaching significant transitions
Your Rights as a Parent
- You must be consulted in the development of your child’s IEP
- You must receive a copy of the IEP within 30 school days of the start of school
- You can request that the IEP be reviewed at any time
- You can disagree with the IPRC’s identification or placement decision and request a review
- You can bring an advocate or support person to any meeting
Advocacy Tips
The IEP is only as good as its implementation. Questions to ask at every review:
- Are the accommodations actually being provided consistently?
- How are we measuring progress toward the annual goals?
- What specific supports are in place in each class?
- Who is the primary contact for implementing the IEP?
The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP), Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO), and Autism Ontario all offer parent advocacy resources and support.
