Special Education & Intervention Services

An IEP falls under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This federal act ensures access to special education and related services for eligible children with disabilities. LAU follows the rules outlined in our LAU Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual.

An IEP is a working document that allows for necessary accommodations. Students with an IEP can receive specially designed instruction, meaning they get tailored instruction unique to them based on their disability, goals, and objectives. These goals are addressed by a special education teacher in the student’s least restrictive environment (LRE) to help the student make progress in areas affected by their disability.

The LAU Process for Determining IEP Eligibility

1. To begin the IEP qualification process, your student must first attend regular interventions with LAU's Student Support team.
2. If our Student Support group determines a need for accommodations, they will submit a referral for your student after 12 weeks of tiered data collection.
3. An IEP group is formed to review the data and determine if consent to test is needed. The IEP group consists of at least one parent/guardian, general education teachers, a special education teacher, LEA, related providers, and often the student.
4. Psychological testing and other evaluations are completed as requested by the IEP group.
5. The IEP group meets to review data and obtain a current body of evidence to determine if the student is eligible for services.
6. If the student is found eligible, the IEP group then creates an IEP for the student.

If your student has a physical or mental impairment that causes substantial limitations, they may be served with a 504 plan. 504 plans are formal plans developed to give students with physical or mental health conditions the support they need in education. These plans provide accommodations to allow equitable access to the curriculum and remove barriers to learning. 

A 504 plan provides accommodations for the student during instruction and on assessments. A 504 plan does not allow for specialized instruction. Its purpose is to allow the student to access the general education curriculum.

While both an IEP & 504 provide for accommodations, a 504 plan can serve students at both the K-12 and college levels. 

504s may include accommodations such as:

• Extended deadlines or due dates
• Audio reader options for some curriculum
• Extended time limits on testing
• Other accommodations

The LAU Process for Determining 504 Eligibility

1. To begin the 504 plan qualification process, you or a mentor must first refer your student.
2. Grades and needs are evaluated, and relevant medical documents are collected.
3. A 504 team consisting of two school representatives and parents meets to review data and obtain a current body of evidence to determine if there is an area of need.
4. If the 504 team determines a need for accommodations, the team creates a 504 outlining which accommodations your student qualifies for.
5. Once the 504 is created, it can then be added to your student's profile in SIS and shared with their mentors.

At LAU, students whose ability to succeed is impeded by significant gaps in their math and/or language arts skills, or students who need support in Executive Function skills but do not require an IEP may receive support from an interventionist.

Interventionists use performance metrics gathered from NWEA MAP Growth assessments to determine what level of support a student needs as part of our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). These assessments are LAU's universal screener for grades 6-10 and help measure the progress of student achievement. All students are required to participate in NWEA assessments.

If you or your student would like to discuss intervention assistance, please complete the Student Support Team Referral form. 

• Grammarly
• Snap N Read
• CoWriter

• LAU Special Education Attendance Policy
• LAU Special Education Absence Form
• USBE Special Education
• USBE Parent Portal
• Procedural Safeguards Notice
• Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual
• LAU Community Resource Directory for Transition Students
• Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Program
• Timeline of Services and Supports