Special Education Terms in Montana
What special education terms does Montana use?
Montana uses several terminology differences from federal IDEA language and from terminology used in other states. The most significant is Montana's use of 'Cognitive Delay' instead of the federal term 'Intellectual Disability' (formerly Mental Retardation)—defined in ARM 10.16.3012 as significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning (two or more standard deviations below the mean) with concurrent adaptive behavior deficits during the developmental period. Montana uses 'Child Study Team' (referenced in older ARM 10.16.12 provisions, with ARM 10.16.3322 repealed) as the historical term for the multidisciplinary evaluation team, now referred to as the evaluation team. 'Exceptional Children' is not Montana's preferred term—Montana typically uses 'child with a disability' or 'student with a disability' consistent with IDEA person-first language (MCA § 20-7-401). Montana uses the term 'Local Educational Agency' (LEA) consistently, as do federal regulations. 'PLAAPF' (Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance) is Montana's version of the federal 'PLAAFP.' Montana uses 'Behavioral Intervention Plan' (BIP) and 'Functional Behavioral Assessment' (FBA) consistent with federal IDEA usage. The Montana OPI refers to the state's dispute resolution center as the 'Dispute Resolution Office' and the informal process as the 'Early Assistance Program' (EAP). The Montana Empowerment Center (MEC) is the state's federally-funded Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). State accreditation requirements for special education programs are referenced in ARM 10.16.3141 (monitoring by OPI).
What Montana Requires
Montana uses 'Cognitive Delay' (ARM 10.16.3012) instead of 'Intellectual Disability'—this is the legally recognized term for this disability category in Montana evaluations and IEPs.
The federal term 'child with a disability' or 'student with a disability' is used in MCA § 20-7-401 and ARM 10.16; Montana does not use 'exceptional children' as a category label.
Montana's 'PLAAPF' (Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance) is equivalent to the federal 'PLAAFP.'
The 'Early Assistance Program' (EAP) is Montana's informal pre-complaint/pre-hearing dispute resolution program (ARM 10.16.3660).
The Montana Empowerment Center (MEC) is Montana's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), providing advocacy training and IEP support resources.
Montana's 'Comprehensive Educational Evaluation' (ARM 10.16.3321) is equivalent to the federal 'comprehensive individual evaluation' or 'full and individual evaluation.'