The Importance Of An Individual Education Plan | .au

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The importance of an individual education plan

An IEP is important because it:

• helps to develop a learning program for individual students
• tracks a student’s progress against short-term SMART (specific, measurable, agreed, relevant, timely) goals to support achievement of long-term goals
• shares information between the school, students, the student’s family and other support professionals, for example, a Koorie Engagement Support Officer, social worker or speech pathologist
• helps identify resources the student may need to achieve their goals. For example, visual supports for classroom schedules and activities or audiobooks
• promotes student confidence and engagement
• ensures schools meet legal obligations and accountabilities for students with disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

If other students in addition to the required cohorts would benefit from an IEP, schools have discretion to create them.

Guidance Guidance for Department Individual Education Plans (IEPs) po... How to develop an individual education p... Guidance on How to develop an individual education plan Guidance chapter on The importance of an individual education plan

Reviewed 23 January 2026

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• The importance of an individual education plan
• How to develop an individual education plan
• SMART goals
• Related plans

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