Special Education Terms in Louisiana

What special education terms does Louisiana use?

Louisiana uses distinctive terminology throughout its special education system. The most important differences from federal IDEA terminology: (1) 'Exceptionalities' — Louisiana's universal term for what federal law calls 'disabilities'; both students and their conditions are referred to as 'exceptionalities' (La. R.S. 17:1941; Bulletin 1508). (2) 'Students with Exceptionalities' — Louisiana's equivalent of 'students with disabilities.' (3) 'IEP Team' — Louisiana uses the standard federal term, not a state-specific name. (4) 'Officially Designated Representative (ODR)' — Louisiana's name for what IDEA calls the 'public agency representative' on the IEP team (Bulletin 1530, §107). (5) 'Pupil Appraisal Team' — Louisiana's evaluation team, governed by Bulletin 1508 (the Pupil Appraisal Handbook). (6) 'Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP)' — Louisiana's official term for a Section 504 plan. (7) 'Interim IEP' — Louisiana's term for a temporary IEP used when a student with a severe or low-incidence exceptionality transfers into the state. (8) 'LDOE' — Louisiana Department of Education (the SEA). (9) 'LaPTIC' — Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center (run by Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans). (10) 'April Dunn Act' — Louisiana's state-specific alternate diploma pathway. (11) 'Child Find' in Louisiana is called by the federal name and is a legal obligation of each LEA to identify, locate, and evaluate all suspected students with exceptionalities.