Required IEP Sections in Washington D.C.
What sections are required in an IEP in Washington D.C.?
Washington D.C. IEPs must include all sections required by IDEA 34 CFR 300.320 as implemented through DC Official Code § 38-2561.02 and OSSE's IEP standards. Required sections include: present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP); measurable annual goals (with benchmarks/short-term objectives for alternate assessment students); how progress toward goals will be measured and when reports will be provided; special education and related services and supplementary aids and services; explanation of nonparticipation with nondisabled peers; individual accommodations for state and districtwide assessments; projected dates for service initiation and duration; and, for students age 16+, transition services. DC adds specific procedural requirements: the draft IEP must be provided to parents within 5 business days of the meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03), with final IEPs due in 15 business days if language access is needed. DC charter schools and DCPS must use the same IEP structure and standards.
What Washington D.C. Requires
PLAAFP: statement of how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum (34 CFR 300.320(a)(1)).
Annual goals: measurable goals addressing each area of need identified in the PLAAFP, with benchmarks or short-term objectives for students taking alternate assessments (34 CFR 300.320(a)(2)).
Progress measurement: description of how progress toward each annual goal will be measured and when periodic progress reports will be provided (34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)).
Services statement: specific special education, related services, supplementary aids and services, and program modifications to be provided, with initiation date, frequency, duration, and location (34 CFR 300.320(a)(4)).
LRE statement: explanation of the extent to which the child will not participate with nondisabled peers (34 CFR 300.320(a)(5)).
Assessment accommodations: statement of individual accommodations for state/districtwide assessments; if alternate assessment, explanation of why (34 CFR 300.320(a)(6)).
Transition services: beginning no later than the first IEP in effect when the student turns 16 (or earlier in DC per OSSE guidance), must include postsecondary goals and transition services (34 CFR 300.320(b)).
DC-specific procedural requirement: draft IEP must be provided to parents within 5 business days of the meeting; final within 15 business days if language access is needed (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Key Timelines
Draft IEP to parents: within 5 business days of meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
Final IEP if language access needed: within 15 business days of meeting (DC Official Code § 38-2571.03).
IEP in effect: must be in place at beginning of each school year (34 CFR 300.323(a)).
Transition services section: required beginning at age 16 (34 CFR 300.320(b)); OSSE recommends earlier in DC.