Acronyms and Definitions

Special Education Acronyms & Definitions Commonly Used in Wyoming 

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act 
AYP: Adequate Yearly Progress 
BIT: Building Intervention Team 
BART: Building At-Risk Team 
BOE: Body of Evidence 
BOCES: Board of Cooperative Education Services (schools) 
CDC: Child Development Centers 
CDS: Child Development Services 
CEC: Council for Exceptional Children 
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations (a Federal law) 
CHS: Children's Health Services 
CST: Child Study Team 
DD: Developmentally Disabled 
DDD: Developmental Disabilities Division 
DDC: Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities 
DVR: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation 
EIC: Early Intervention Council 
ESEA: Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
ELL: English Language Learner
ESL: English as a Second Language 
ESY: Extended School Year  
FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education 
FBA: Functional Behavior Assessment 
FEOG: Full Educational Opportunity Goal 
FERPA: Family Education Rights and Privacy Act 
HCB: Home and Community Based Waiver 
ICAP: Inventory for Client & Agency Planning 
ICFMR: Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation 
IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
IEE: Independent Education Evaluation 
IEP: Individual Education Program 
IFSP: Individual Family Service Plan 
IPC: Individual Plan of Care 
IPE: Individual Plan for Employment 
IQ: Intelligence Quotient/relationship between chronological age and mental development 
JEC: Joint Education Committee 
LEA: Local Education Agency (school district) 
LEP: Limited English Proficient 
LICC: Local Interagency Coordinating Council 
LRE: Least Restrictive Environment 
MAP: Measure of Academic Progress 
MCH: Maternal & Child Health 
MDAT: Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Team 
NCA: North Central Accreditation 
NCLB: No Child Left Behind Education Act 
NICHCY: Natl. Info. Center for Children & Youth w/ Disabilities 
OCR: Office of Civil Rights 
OSEP: Office of Spec. Ed. Programs (US Dept of Education) 
MDAT: Multi-Disciplinary Assessment Team  
P & A : Protection and Advocacy, Inc. 
PAWS:  Proficiency Assessment for Wyoming Students 
PBIS: Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports 
PEN: Parent Education Network 
PHN: Public Health Nurse 
PIC: Parent Information Center 
RtI: Response to Intervention 
SRC: State Rehabilitation Council 
SEA: State Education Agency/State Dept of Education 
SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance 
SSI: Supplemental Security Income 
SSP: State Supplementary Payments 
VI: Visual Disability 
VR: Vocational Rehabilitation 
W.S.: Wyoming Statute (a state law) 
WAPSD: Wyoming Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities 
WASEA: WY Association of Special Education Administrators 
WIND: WY Institute for Disabilities 
WATR: WY Assistive Technology Resources

(Adapted from Parent Information Center: Keys… to confident and effective parent participation in the special education process. Full copies of this helpful resource are available in the Special Education Office at Wyoming Indian Middle School.)  


Definitions:

Building Intervention Team (BIT) 
A team usually consisting of the building principal, the student's teacher, and other professionals. Its purpose is to review screening information on students who may be experiencing difficulty in school. The team may recommend interventions, monitor the implementation and progress of interventions and refer the student for a multidisciplinary evaluation, if necessary.

Goals and Objectives 
The IEP team develops goals and objectives to help the student benefit from education. The goals and objectives are designed individually for each student and are linked to state standards for all students. Special education teachers report progress toward meeting your child's goals quarterly.

Individual Education Program (IEP) 
A written plan that includes educational goals for the student and describes the special education program which will be provided to reach those goals. Parents are active participants in the meeting in which the IEP is written. You will receive a copy of the IEP after the meeting. 
IEP Annual Review 
A yearly meeting of the IEP team including parents and other professionals serving the child. This is held to review your child's progress during the past year and plan for the year ahead. You may, however, call an IEP meeting at any time; you do not have to wait until the annual review to meet if you have concerns or wish to review the IEP.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) 
LRE refers to a 'free and appropriate public education' in an educational setting with age-appropriate non-disabled peers. Special classes and separate schools are considered only when the severity or complexity of a child's disability prevents them from making progress in a general education class.

Multidisciplinary Evaluation 
An evaluation of the referred student's educational needs, designed to determine whether the student qualifies for special education services. A multidisciplinary evaluation must focus on the suspected disability as indicated by the referral and can only be conducted with written parental consent. The exact nature of the evaluation depends upon the complexity of the student's educational difficulties and areas of suspected disabilities. The evaluation process must be repeated at least every three years to determine if the student continues to qualify for special education services.

Referral 
Students may be referred for a multidisciplinary evaluation in areas of suspected disabilities by the BIT.