Dion M.

Chapman
Artifact Rationale: IEP Case Study
One of the many requirements for this internship was the IEP
Case Study. This assignment was challenging for me. It was during this
Masters program that my role as a Case Manager became more
involved. I have a caseload of six students, in which all of them receive
special education services. I am now included in all parts of the IEP
process and with that comes more responsibility. The IEP Case Study
assignment allowed me to be more involved with the IEP Team and
allowed me to review my students educational records on a much
deeper level. This assignment allowed me to continue to collaborate
with individuals with exceptionalities, their families, professional
colleagues, and personnel from other agencies in order to develop an
IEP document. This artifact allowed me to demonstrate my mastery in
several CEC Standards. The CEC Standards included 1: Learner
Development and Individual Learning Differences, 3: Curricular Content
Knowledge, 6: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice, and 7:
Collaboration.
CEC Standard 1 Learner Development and Individual Learning
Differences states that the special educator must be aware of their
students individual differences, background, and learning needs in
order to develop a meaningful IEP. This assignment required me to
research deeper into my students educational records in order to

develop a well-researched and informed analysis. The review of his

records allowed me to gain knowledge of the timeline of his diagnoses.
It also identified different strategies that may have been helpful to this
student in the past. The review of his records also allowed me to see
which goals and objectives have been applied in his past IEPs. This
knowledge will also help me develop new IEP goals and objectives.
CEC Standard 3: Curricular Content Knowledge was also
demonstrated in the completion of this assignment. This standard was
demonstrated when I was able to use my knowledge of the general
education setting and the specialized curriculum to individualize the
goals and objectives for this student. I also had to make sure these
goals and objectives aligned with the Common Core State Standards. It
was this knowledge that allowed my mentor and I to come up with
goals and objectives to present to the IEP Team in the development of
our draft IEP. Additionally, as a special educator Standard 3 states that
I must be able to use a variety of specialized curricula such as
academic, strategic, social, emotional, and independence curriculum to
individualize meaningful and challenging learning for my students with
exceptionalities. This assignment required me to demonstrate this
ability.
CEC Standard 6: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice was
also demonstrated in the development of this IEP. This standard states
that educational professionals must use foundational knowledge of the

field and ethical principles and practices to engage in lifelong learning

to advance the profession. I must also understand that how these
factors influence professional practice, assessment, instructional
planning, implementation, and program evaluations. This standard also
requires that I understand that diversity is a part of all families,
cultures, and schools, and that the complexity of human issues can
interact with the delivery of special education services. This knowledge
and understanding was demonstrated in the development of this IEP
Case Study. I continued to show the mastery of this standard when I
engage in activities such as the advocacy and mentoring of my
students.
Lastly, CEC Standard 7: Collaboration; states that educational
professionals must collaborate with families, other educators, related
service providers, individuals with exceptionalities, and community
agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of
individuals with exceptionalities. Completing this artifact allowed for
numerous opportunities to collaborate with other professionals. I had
the pleasure to work with several IEP team members such as the
Speech and Language Pathologist, the school psychologist, and the
transitional agency called DORS. The Occupational Therapist was also
contacted to develop appropriate goals and objectives. This project
stressed that collaboration is essential to the IEP process to develop a
sound and effective IEP.

The development of an educationally sound IEP requires the work

of many professionals. The IEP Case Study project required me to
demonstrate an understanding of the individualized decision-making
process through the initiation of the IEP process, collaborative planning
for individuals with exceptionalities, families, professional colleagues,
and personnel from other agencies in order to develop an IEP
document. I am proud to say, I completed what was asked of me.
Although I have worked with students with exceptionalities for many
years, this project was very educational for me and I enjoyed working
closely with my mentor teacher. At the conclusion of this project, I felt
the document we created, as a team would meet the needs of the
student.