Individual Plan of Study

The IPS includes information specific to each student that families, students, and school personnel can use to guide decision making and monitor students’ progress toward goals. The IPS may include the following information: skills, abilities, hobbies, and accomplishments; graduation requirements; current and past classes and activities; grades and test scores; examples of student work; results from career, college, and interest inventories; personal goal statements; work based learning experiences and, college and financial planning activities.

It is important for families to show an active interest and support for their student’s interests and abilities, as well as the IPS process. One way family members help influence their student’s perspectives of work and postsecondary education is by providing a variety of life experiences. By communicating perceptions of work,
parents help contribute to their student’s personal, career, and academic  development.

Although the school is responsible for the development of an IPS, it is important for families to contribute and participate in their student’s IPS process. Families should attend any and all of the Parent/Teacher Conferences or school meetings in which the IPS may be discussed, developed, or updated.

To provide input into the IPS process families could consider:

• Their student's strengths and challenges
• How he/she learns best
• What he/she enjoys doing
• His/her special talents
• Their main hopes for their student this year
• The long-term goals for their student
• Other services supporting their student
• Questions they may have about their student's future

Families may also be asked to provide their signature on the IPS. This ensures that the families have participated in the discussion and the development of the IPS.

It is important to understand that the IPS is a flexible product that is built on the student’s interests and skills. It is understood that a student’s interests may change at any time in the IPS process and the IPS can be adjusted accordingly.

The IEP is a legal document required for any student receiving special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Exudation Act (IDEA). The IPS is a product and a process for ALL students including those students with an IEP. The IPS can be an excellent resource in the development of the transition planning requirements of an IEP.