Why should students with disabilities be held to academic content and achievement standards when the IEP process requires an individualized education?
The individualized education program (IEP) is a planning process and tool used to ensure that each student with disabilities receives the individualized services, supports, and specialized instruction that are required to access and make progress in the general curriculum. System accountability in a standards-based system holds schools accountable for ensuring that all students, including those students who have disabilities, are being given appropriate opportunities to learn the general curriculum. Thus, the IEP process and system accountability under standards-based reform work together to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
