A kinder approach to
Individualized Education Plans
KiEP aims to improve the experience of developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) by creating a user-friendly, scalable platform that keeps students, parents, and educators connected while providing real-time data as it grows with the student.
Created by special education teachers, our design is student-centered, with the parent and teacher experience in mind.
THE NEED
More than 774,000 California students received special education services during the 2017-18 school year. California special education teachers can expect to support up to 28 students year round.
The mandated tool to document and track progress and services of students with disabilities is called an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The intent of the IEP is wonderful and important. It ensures that all children have a fair and appropriate education. Unfortunately, due to increasing litigation, districts are compelled to design an IEP with only compliance in mind. The result is a very depressing, alienating – some might say hostile – document that is the guiding force for every interaction between schools and families who have children with disabilities. Because of its poor design, the current IEP has fostered mistrust between families and the education system.
Another impact of these confusing forms is that teachers are ill-equipped to fill them out appropriately. The high turnover rate for special education teachers as well as the intense demands on their time means that they often make mistakes or don’t understand some of the language or implications of what the forms convey.
It is widely held that special education needs to be changed to better meet the needs of all stakeholders: children, caregivers, teachers, administrators, legal advocates as well as state and federal agencies. Part of this necessary reform needs to take place in the way we communicate with families and students.
THE ANSWER
A student-centered solution designed to:
KEEP students on track
KEEP parents informed
KEEP teachers organized
KEEP data current
KEEP schools in compliance
A group of special education teachers, child advocates and parents have come together to develop a new tool. We are focused on designing a platform that will be much more inviting of meaningful participation and engagement for families and students. In addition, it will be more coherent and user-friendly for teachers while remaining compliant with state and federal laws.
Our ultimate goal is to develop an IEP that promotes trust and communication which is sure to benefit children and families.
