Execution of an IEP is a requirement for every child in public school who receives special education services. Those services could include a separate classroom or services to a child in a regular class. This document must be a unique paper written for the individual needs of just one student. It should not include standard language but rather reflect the special needs of that child.
The purpose of an IEP is to bring together teachers, special staff members, administrators and parents. They meet and discuss the child's disability and how it affects his ability to learn. The group looks at the school's resources that are available and how they can best serve the child. They then draft the IEP to outline a course of action for meeting the needs of the child within the resources available.
An IEP is not an open-ended document. Circumstances change over time. The child grows and develops, schools obtain new resources and teachers learn new methods of addressing disabilities. For this reason, IEPs have duration dates. The dates run from one specific date to another. Following the duration date is another date that is the reevaluation date. Duration dates serve a purpose; they force the group of teachers, staff, administrators and parents to rewrite the document based upon new circumstances.
During the duration period, IEPs can be amended as many times as needed. Procedures exist for the amendment process. Changes do not negate the need for an annual review and rewriting, which is why amendments do not change the duration date. Amendments can be accomplished by meeting or informally by consent. Think of an amendment as fine-tuning in between checkups.