Computerized IEPs

[SLP]

Tell us which computerized IEP programs you use.
How do you like the one you use?
Any glitches?:)

[dolmansaxlil]

We used to use a program that was developed through Filemaker Pro, which I HATED.

Now we're using an online IEP engine that was developed by our school board. I LOVED it. It was fantastic to be able to use it at home if I wanted to get some work done. I also liked that we could leave the IEPs as open, so all of the documentation would stay with the file from year to year. That meant we could put in the information about parent contact and problems, and it would always stay on file. When we printed the IEPs to send home to parents or to put in the OSR (Ontario Student Record) we wouldn't print all of that information, but it was great to be able to refer back to it - especially when someone new joined the special ed team!

[SLP]

We use Filemaker Pro IEP Works. It's cumbersome and a big pain in the neck sometimes. I often think it would be easier to go back to handwritten IEPs than to deal with the glitches of IEP Works.

[ldteach73]

We use SEEDS that is put together by our CESAs here in our state of WI> I like it so much better than having to hand write them. Though I wish that all districts in the states or even nation wide all had one iep that was the same format.

[SLP]

I agree. A nationwide form would be nice, escpecially when a child moves from one state to another. Some of those interim IEPs from out of state just don't match our system & services. (Maybe that's why each state uses their own form.) In PA, we just had 2 pages added to the end of our IEPs due to a lawsuit about service over holidays & breaks!

[SuzyQII]

We use a program called Goalview. It is not bad, but they keep altering it and not always for the better. As someone else said, they keep changing it to try and catch all loopholes to avoid law suits, but of course the more they add, the more chances of doing something wrong by accident! A nationwide program would be great! One thing I do like about this program, is that you can look at all previous IEP's even from home to locate all the information you need.

[RhotnSped]

We use a program called SEAS. It has just been updated and we arent able to use *all* of the pages. It IS easier than handwriting them. As stated above it would be wonderful to have a National IEP.

[honeybuns]

Our District uses a program called Esped. One ARD is normally 23 pages long. This is without any additional related services like transporation. Yes, one already can read this is NOT teacher friendly at all plus they(central office and programers) are constantly changing/updating things which makes it difficult to maintain a product to be constant thus teachers end up making errors which means having brief ARDs to correct ARD documents errors. This is just the teacher perpective.

What about the parent side? They have to sit through an ARD that involves this large document that explains how it is to help their child. Please......... There has to be a better way or program out there. Computers are to simplify things but not in this case.

[SpEd guy]

At the risk of finding everybody on summer break, I am posting for the first time.

Our school is looking for a IEP program. Does multidisciplinary collaboration really occur with the web-based programs?

Or, does the special education teacher end up doing all of the typing anyway?

[unoriginal]

At the risk of finding everybody on summer break, I am posting for the first time.

Our school is looking for a IEP program. Does multidisciplinary collaboration really occur with the web-based programs?

Or, does the special education teacher end up doing all of the typing anyway?

Where I work, I do all of the IEP stuff. General Education teachers can look at the IEP if they want but as far as progress monitoring or filling out IEPS, it's all left to me.

[SpEd guy]

How about paper reduction? Are general education teachers given access to online forms instead of paper copies?

[dolmansaxlil]

Sigh. I was resource last year, and really looked forward to the collaboration/reduction of paper. This year I'm a classroom teacher in the same school, and the new resource teacher won't allow anyone to access anything, and insists on handing us printed IEPs on every kid, every term, even if nothing has changed.

[honeybuns]

SPED Guy,

My district has a program which allows uploading of IEPs so that given teachers/staff who provide service to a student are granted access to their IEPs. They then are able to download student IEPs. Nice feature about accessing this.....is data can be time stamped. Another words, no longer can a General Education Teacher say that he/she was not informed or give the student IEPs. This takes accountability to a whole new level especially now with the new No Child Left Behind Laws and inclusion being a new push. Case manger (special education teacher) is responsible/ensure the document/is kept current and legal.

There are pros and cons to any computer program. I do think that progress reports are a plus. It is time saving and great documentation.

One thing is to be noted about computerized IEPs it is not for the novice computer user. The teacher must have at best a working understanding of computers at an intermediate skill level.

I am not sure if this were the type of answers you would looking for but hope it helps. Enjoy your summer. :o) Honeybuns

[teacher333]

We currently use something called ContourData and Webtrack. They are extremely slow, especially when updating, saving and trying to print. I miss having a hard copy to keep with me which I can refer to during the year in case something comes up or I think I have missed something. We have limited access to what we can print as hard copies, that being only for progress reports, which means only printing the goals, objectives and progress pages on a marking period-basis.

[Renea]

We use the SEAS program. It works pretty well for us.

[MrsR]

Just like Unoriginal, where I work, the special ed teacher does all the writing of the IEPs, the general educator usually goes to the special ed teacher to help understand the IEPs
My district uses IEP Direct. This is my first year with the district, so I'm not sure how it works.