Commonly Used Special Education Acronyms

Special Education seems to have a language of its own. Educators often use many of these words in conversations with parents, so, as a parent, please ask for clarification or an explanation of the meaning.  Teachers, speech/language pathologists,  principals, etc. will be more than happy to do so.  As an equal partner in planning, parents must be comfortable with and understand the information they are seeing and/or reading. We welcome your questions!

ARD -  Admission, Review, and Dismissal

AT - Assistive Technology

BIP - Behavior Intervention Plan

ECI - Early Childhood/Infant Programs or Early Childhood Intervention

ECSE- Early Childhood Special Education (previously known as PPCD - Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities)

ESY - Extended School Year

FAPE - Free and Appropriate Public Education

FBA- Functional Behavior Assessment

FERPA- Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act

FIE - Full Individual Evaluation

IDEA - Individual with Disabilities Education Act (PL 94-142)

IEE - Independent Educational Evaluation

IEP - Individual Education Plan

LEA - Local Educational Agency

LRE - Least Restrictive Environment

LSSP - Licensed Specialist in School Psychology

PLAAFP - Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance

RTI - Response to Intervention

SBOE - State Board of Education

SLP- Speech Language Pathologist

TEA - Texas Education Agency

TEKS - Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills