Quality Rating 1: IFSP/IEP
Instructions
To meet the requirements for Administrative Policies and Practices: IFSP / IEP: ADM 7.1, you must submit:
- Enrollment or intake forms that include a request for a copy of a child’s IFSP or IEP
- A statement of how program works with families and service providers
The Statement Builder is a step-by-step guide for creating your statement.
Request a Copy of a Child’s IFSP or IEP
Your enrollment or intake forms collect important information about each child. These forms should also ask if the child has an IFSP or an IEP. You can then ask the family if they’re willing to share a copy with you. You cannot require that families provide this information. Some families may choose to keep some or all of the information private. Building a trusting relationship with the family can help them feel more comfortable sharing over time.
What does the documentation look like?
The documents you submit must show that you ask families if their child has an IFSP or IEP. If a family says yes, include wording that invites them to share a copy with you. This can be added to your application, contract, family handbook, or other enrollment or intake forms. Keep in mind, you cannot require families to share these documents.
Below are some examples of ways to request the information, rather than require it. Please note, each example also explains that sharing the document helps support their child.
- Please share your child’s IFSP/IEP or any information from it that will allow us to better care for your child.
- We ask that you share your child’s IFSP/IEP or any information from it so that we can best meet your child’s needs.
- Please provide your child’s IFSP/IEP or any information from it so that…
If no children with special health care needs or disabilities are currently enrolled, or the family chooses not to share the IFSP/IEP, submit a comment stating this. Use the Submitting and Accessing a Comment tutorial if you need assistance submitting a comment to ADM 7.
Statement Builder
Develop a statement that describes how your program works with families and early intervention or special education service providers to support child and family outcomes. The Reflection Questions below will help you think about what you do in your program to capture it when creating your statement. Once you have spent time reflecting on the questions below, you’re ready to write your IFSP/IEP Statement.
Reflection Questions
- How do you work with the family of a child who has an IFSP/IEP?
- How do you work with the child’s early intervention or special education service providers?
Policy Builder Resources
Use these optional PDF resources to reflect on your program’s practices and create your statement.
Technology Tips
Choose the way that the provided resources will be most useful to you.
You can:
Download the PDF.
Save the PDF.
Print the PDF.
Edit the PDF.
Where can you learn more?
- What do Child Providers need to know about IEPs and IFSPs? What do IEP and IFSP mean, and how do they help child care providers better educate children with special needs?
- Building Relationships with Families of Children with Special Needs Family members have important information about their own children, and this information is valuable to anyone involved in a child’s care.
