Special Education Terms in Michigan
What special education terms does Michigan use?
Michigan uses several state-specific terms in its special education system that differ from federal IDEA terminology or terminology used in other states. The most important Michigan-specific terms are: (1) IEPT (Individualized Education Program Team) — Michigan's name for the IEP Team; used in MARSE, meeting notices, and official documents; (2) MET (Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team) — Michigan's evaluation team required under R 340.1701b; a minimum of 2 persons including a specialist; produces the MET report (R 340.1721c); (3) ISD (Intermediate School District) or RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) — Michigan's 56 regional education agencies that provide or supervise special education services; (4) MARSE (Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education) — Michigan's state special education regulations, R 340.1701–1873, the primary regulatory authority alongside MCL 380; (5) SEMS (Special Education Mediation Services) — Michigan's free mediation and facilitated IEP meeting service, reachable at 1-833-KIDS1ST; (6) MOAHR (Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules) — the independent agency that conducts due process hearings through Administrative Law Judges; (7) MiMTSS (Michigan's Multi-Tiered System of Supports) — Michigan's RTI/MTSS framework; (8) MI-Access — Michigan's alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; (9) M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) — Michigan's general statewide assessment; (10) Early On — Michigan's IDEA Part C early intervention program for birth to age 3; (11) Cognitive Impairment — Michigan's term for Intellectual Disability (R 340.1705); (12) Emotional Impairment — Michigan's term for Emotional Disturbance (R 340.1706); (13) MDE OSE — Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education; (14) MAF (Michigan Alliance for Families) — the federally funded Parent Training and Information (PTI) center.
What Michigan Requires
IEPT (Individualized Education Program Team) is Michigan's official term for the IEP team — used throughout MARSE and in all official meeting notices and documentation.
MET (Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team) is the evaluation team required under R 340.1701b — minimum 2 persons including a specialist; produces the MET report (R 340.1721c).
ISD (Intermediate School District) or RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) — Michigan's 56 regional agencies that provide or supervise special education; no federal equivalent exists.
MARSE (Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education) — R 340.1701–1873 — is the primary state regulatory authority; citations in Michigan special education always reference MARSE rule numbers.
MOAHR (Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules) conducts due process hearings through ALJs — independent from MDE OSE, which handles state complaints.
Cognitive Impairment (R 340.1705) = Intellectual Disability; Emotional Impairment (R 340.1706) = Emotional Disturbance — use Michigan-specific terms in Michigan documents.