IEPs are the tools public schools use to support students who require additional assistance beyond what they can receive from their teachers or the classroom environment. These plans are typically provided to children who are struggling to grasp the material that their peers are able to understand. While teachers or school counselors may identify students in need of an IEP, it is often the parents who first raise concerns with the school psychologist. In private schools, however, students may access special education services through a service plan, also known as an Individual Services Plan (ISP).

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document designed to ensure that a child receives the appropriate education they are entitled to. Developing an IEP requires significant time and resources, and the details laid out in the plan are not optional; they are specific instructions that the school must follow. If there are issues with the creation or implementation of the IEP, parents have the right to seek remedies from the school district and inquire about how the school will fulfill its obligation to provide their child with a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).