Required IEP Sections in Mississippi
What sections are required in an IEP in Mississippi?
Mississippi IEPs must contain all components required by federal law (34 CFR 300.320) as implemented through the Mississippi Special Education Regulations (MS Sp. Ed. Regs.), which are promulgated by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) under authority of Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-1 et seq. Required sections include: present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP); measurable annual goals; special education and related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications or supports for school personnel; an explanation of the extent to which the student will not participate with nondisabled peers in regular classes; individual appropriate accommodations for state and districtwide assessments (Mississippi Academic Assessment Program — MAAP); projected start date, frequency, location, and duration of services; and how progress will be measured and reported to parents. Mississippi follows the federal IEP team composition requirements, including the parent, at least one general education teacher, at least one special education teacher or provider, an LEA representative, an individual who can interpret evaluation results, and others at the discretion of the parent or district. For students of transition age, the IEP must include coordinated transition services beginning no later than the first IEP to be in effect when the student turns 16 (or younger if the IEP team determines appropriate). At age 18, the IEP must document that the student has been notified of the transfer of rights.
What Mississippi Requires
Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance must describe how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general curriculum (34 CFR 300.320(a)(1); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
Measurable annual goals must address disability-related needs to enable involvement and progress in the general curriculum (34 CFR 300.320(a)(2); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
The IEP must specify special education and related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications or supports for school personnel with projected start date, frequency, location, and duration (34 CFR 300.320(a)(4),(7); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
The IEP must include a statement of individual appropriate accommodations for state assessments (MAAP); if the student takes the alternate assessment (MAAP-A), the IEP must explain why (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6); MS Sp. Ed. Regs.).
The IEP must explain the extent to which the student will not participate with nondisabled peers in regular education classes and activities (34 CFR 300.320(a)(5)).
For students age 16 or older (or younger when appropriate), the IEP must include transition services covering postsecondary education, vocational education, employment, independent living skills, and community participation (34 CFR 300.320(b); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-11).
At age 18, the IEP must document that the student and parents have been informed of the transfer of procedural rights to the student (34 CFR 300.520; Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-5).
Key Timelines
The IEP must be in effect at the beginning of each school year (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Initial IEP must be developed within 30 days of the eligibility determination (34 CFR 300.323(c)).
The IEP must be reviewed at least annually and revised as needed (34 CFR 300.324(b); Miss. Code Ann. § 37-23-9).
Prior written notice must be provided a reasonable time before the proposed action, which MDE guidance indicates is at least 10 calendar days before implementation in Mississippi.
Transition services must be addressed beginning with the IEP in effect when the student turns 16 (34 CFR 300.320(b)).