Special Education Terms in Indiana
What special education terms does Indiana use?
Indiana uses several distinct terms in its special education system that differ from federal IDEA terminology and from other states. The most important Indiana-specific terminology: (1) Case Conference Committee (CCC) — Indiana's statutory term for the IEP team at all stages: referral, evaluation, eligibility, IEP development, placement, and annual review (511 IAC 7-42-3; 511 IAC 7-32-48); (2) Transition IEP (TIEP) — Indiana's distinct term for an IEP in effect when a student enters 9th grade or turns 14 (511 IAC 7-43-4; 511 IAC 7-32-48); (3) Cognitive Disability — Indiana's regulatory umbrella term (511 IAC 7-41-3) for what federal IDEA calls 'intellectual disability,' with three recognized levels: Mild, Moderate, and Severe Cognitive Disability; (4) Emotional Disability — Indiana's term (511 IAC 7-41-7) for what IDEA calls 'emotional disturbance'; (5) Language or Speech Impairment — Indiana's combined term for what many states split into separate speech and language impairment categories (511 IAC 7-41-8); (6) Blind or Low Vision — Indiana's combined term for what IDEA calls 'visual impairment including blindness' (511 IAC 7-41-2); (7) Consent to Initial Provision of Services — Indiana-specific form required before special education services begin; (8) Educational Surrogate Parent — appointed under 511 IAC 7-39 for students without a parent to represent them; (9) Statement of Transition Service Needs — Indiana's TIEP component documenting course of study and transition services needed to achieve postsecondary goals.
What Indiana Requires
Case Conference Committee (CCC): Indiana's statutory term for the IEP team, responsible for all decisions from evaluation through annual review (511 IAC 7-42-3).
Transition IEP (TIEP): Indiana's distinct term for the IEP in effect when the student enters 9th grade or turns 14 (511 IAC 7-43-4).
Cognitive Disability: Indiana's regulatory term for intellectual disability, with Mild, Moderate, and Severe levels (511 IAC 7-41-3).
Emotional Disability: Indiana's term for what IDEA calls emotional disturbance (511 IAC 7-41-7).
Language or Speech Impairment: Indiana's combined category covering both speech and language disorders (511 IAC 7-41-8).
Consent to Initial Provision of Services: Indiana-specific consent form required before special education services begin — distinct from consent to evaluate.
Statement of Transition Service Needs: Indiana's specific TIEP component documenting the course of study and transition services aligned to postsecondary goals (511 IAC 7-43-4).
Educational Surrogate Parent: appointed under 511 IAC 7-39 to represent students lacking a parent in special education decisions.
Key Timelines
CCC eligibility determination meeting: within 50 calendar days of consent for initial evaluation (511 IAC 7-40-4(a)).
TIEP must be in effect at 9th grade entry or age 14, whichever is first (511 IAC 7-43-4).