There are a lot of terms and acronyms used in education. Browse the list provided here to become familiar with them before you go to a meeting.
504 - A section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADR - Alternative Dispute Resolution
APD - Auditory Processing Disorder
APE - Adaptive Physical Education
APR - Annual Performance Report
ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASL - American Sign Language
ASOL - Aligned Standards of Learning
AT - Assistive Technology
AYP - Adequate Yearly Progress
BCBA - Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BIP - Behavioral Intervention Plan
CAP - Corrective Action Plan
CAPD - Central Auditory Processing Disorder
CBA - Curriculum Based Assessment
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations
CI - Cochlear Implant
COV - Code of Virginia
CSA - Comprehensive Services Act
CSB - Community Services Board
CVI - Cortical Visual Impairment
DARS - [Virginia] Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services
DB - Deaf-Blindness
DBHDS - [Virginia] Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
DBVI - Virginia Department of Blind and Visually Impaired
DD - Developmental Delay
DHH - Deaf/Hard of Hearing
DMAS - [Virginia] Department of Medical Assistance Services
DSM-5 - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
ECSE - Early Childhood Special Education
ED - Emotional Disability
EDGAR - Education Department General Administrative Regulations
EHA - Education of the Handicapped Act
EL - English Learner
EOC - End of Course
ERS - Early Resolution System
ESSA - Every Student Succeeds Act
ESY - Extended School Year
FAPE - Free Appropriate Public Education
FAPT - Family Assessment Planning Team
FBA - Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FOIA - Freedom of Information Act
HI - Hearing Impairment
HIPPA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HO - Hearing Officer
HOH - Hard of Hearing
IA - Instructional Assistant
IAES - Interim Alternative Education Setting
ID - Intellectual Disability
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIA - Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (otherwise called IDEA)
IDELR - Individuals with Disabilities Education Law Reporter
IEE - Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP - Individualized Education Program
IFSP - Individual Family Service Plan
IHO - Impartial Hearing Officer
IQ - Intelligence Quotient
ISP - Individual Services Plan
LAC - Local Advisory Committee (otherwise called SEAC)
LEA - Local Educational Agency (School division or SOP)
LEP - Limited English Proficiency
LOF - Letter of Findings
LRE - Least Restrictive Environment
MD - Multiple Disabilities
MDR - Manifestation Determination Review
NIMAC - National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center
NIMAS - National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
NLD/NVLD - Non-verbal Learning Disability
O&M - Orientation and Mobility Services
OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCR - Office for Civil Rights (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)
OCS - Office of Children’s Services
ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder
ODRAS - Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services (at VDOE)
OHI - Other Health Impaired
OI - Orthopedic Impairment
OSEP - Office of Special Education Programs (at USED)
OSERS - Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (at USED)
OT - Occupational Therapy
PBIS - Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
PDD - Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PE - Physical Education
PII - Personally Identifiable Information
PLOP or PLAAFP - Present Level of Performance or Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
PRC - Parent Resource Center
PSD - Procedural Safeguards Document
PT - Physical Therapy
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PWN - Prior Written Notice
RTI - Response to Intervention
SD - Severe Disability
SDI - Specially Designed Instruction
SEA - State Educational Agency (otherwise called VDOE)
SEAC - Special Education Advisory Committee (otherwise called LAC)
Section 504 - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
SED - Serious Emotional Disturbance
SI - Sensory Integration
SL/SLP - Speech Language/Speech Language Pathologist
SLD - Specific Learning Disability
SLI - Speech Language Impairment
SOL - Standards of Learning Test
SOP - State-Operated Program
SPED - Special Education
SPP - State Performance Plan
SSEAC - State Special Education Advisory Committee
STO - Short-term Objective
TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
TTAC or T/TAC
- Training and Technical Assistance Center
U.S. Code - United States Code
U.S. ED - United States Department of Education
VAAP - Virginia Alternative Assessment Program
VAC - Virginia Administrative Code
VADARS - Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services
VATTS - Virginia Assistive Technology, Tools and Strategies
VBPD - Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
VDDHH - Virginia Department of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
VDH - Virginia Department of Health
VDOE - Virginia Department of Education
VESOL - Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning
VI - Visual Impairment
VR - Vocational Rehabilitation Services
VSDB - Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton
VTSS - Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports
