Demystifying ESE: Your glossary for confident advocacy

Here are some of the most frequently used terms you'll encounter in exceptional student education:

🔹 IEP & Legal Terms

• IEP – Individualized Education Program: A written plan developed for a public school child who is eligible for special education.
• ESE – Exceptional Student Education: Educational services and support for students with disabilities or unique learning needs.
• FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education: The right of all children with disabilities to receive special education and related services at no cost to parents.
• LRE – Least Restrictive Environment: The requirement that students with disabilities be educated with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
• IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: A federal law that ensures public schools provide special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.
• LEA – Local Education Agency: Usually refers to a school district.

📊 Evaluations, Behavior & Data

• RTI / MTSS – Response to Intervention / Multi-Tiered System of Supports: A multi-level prevention system to maximize student achievement and reduce behavioral problems.
• FBA – Functional Behavior Assessment: A process to identify the purpose or function of a student's challenging behavior.
• BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan: A plan based on an FBA to address problem behaviors.
• PLOP / PLAAFP – Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance: A statement in the IEP that describes what a child can do in academic and functional areas.

🎯 Services & Supports

• OT – Occupational Therapy: Services to help a child develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living.
• PT – Physical Therapy: Services to help a child improve mobility and reduce pain.
• SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist: A professional who assesses and treats speech, language, and swallowing disorders.
• ESY – Extended School Year: Special education and related services provided to a child with a disability beyond the typical school year.
• AT – Assistive Technology: Any item, piece of equipment, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
• AIM – Accessible Instructional Materials: Materials that are adapted to make learning accessible for students with disabilities, such as audiobooks, digital text, large print, or braille. These supports help students access the same content as their peers in a way that meets their individual needs.

🧩 Disability Categories

• SLD – Specific Learning Disability: A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language.
• ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder: A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction.
• DD - Developmental Delay: A term used when a young child is developing skills more slowly than expected in areas such as communication, movement, learning, social skills, or daily living skills, and may need additional support to succeed in school.
• OHI – Other Health Impairment: Limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems.
• IND – Intellectual Disability: A disability that affects a student’s intellectual functioning and adaptive skills, which can impact learning, problem-solving, and everyday life skills.
• EBD – Emotional/Behavioral Disability: A condition exhibiting one or more of several characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
• LI – Language Impairment: A difficulty with understanding or using spoken or written language.

🏫 Plans, Testing & Accommodations

• 504 Plan – Section 504 Plan: A plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act receives accommodations.
• FAST – Florida Assessment of Student Thinking: Florida's statewide standardized assessment for students.
• PM – Progress Monitoring: Regularly assessing student progress to determine the effectiveness of instruction and interventions.
• UPAR – Universal protocol for accommodations in reading. 
• Unique Accommodations: Specific adjustments made to assist students with disabilities in accessing education. 
• Access Points: Alternate academic standards used for students with significant cognitive disabilities. These standards simplify grade-level expectations and focus on essential skills, allowing students to learn content at an appropriate level and participate in state assessments designed for their needs.

💰 Florida Programs & Resources

• FES-UA – Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities: A scholarship program in Florida providing educational options for students with unique abilities.

🧠 Behavior & Specialized Support Programs

• VE – Varying Exceptionalities: A general category in Florida that includes students with different types of disabilities.
• BSU – Behavior Support Unit: A specialized program or service designed to address challenging behaviors in students.
• CBS – Communication, Behavior, and Social Skills: A specialized support program that focuses on helping students improve communication, manage behavior, and develop social skills needed for success in school.