In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and federal regulations, The Vanguard School works hard to ensure individualized objects and educational goals are outlined in accordance with a student's unique exceptionality and needs in their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Held on an annual basis, an IEP meeting determines whether a student's goals are achieved or if revissions to the IEP are appropriate. An IEP meeting can be called at any time during the year if a teacher, parent or legal guardian or other individual involved feels a student's IEP is not meeting his or her needs. This happens if the goals set out for the student are no longer deemed appropriate.

A child's IEP team includes:

• The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child.
• At least one special education teacher, or, if appropriate, one special education provider of the child.
• A representative of the public agency who is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of specially-designed instruction and knowledgeable about the general curriculum and availability of resources of the public agency.
• An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results.
• At the discretion of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) or agency, other individuals who have knowledge of or special expertise regarding the child.

The IEP must include:

• A statement of the child's present levels of educational performance.
• Measurable annual goals including benchmarks or short-term objectives.
• The special education, related services and supplementary aids to be provided to the child.
• An explanation of the extent to which the child will not participate with children in regular education classrooms.
• Any individual modifications in the administration of state- or district-wide assessments of student achievement that are needed for the child to participate in the assessment.
• The projected date for the beginning of the services and modifications along with the frequency, location and duration of the services and modifications.
• A statement of how progress toward the annual goals will be measured and how the parents will be regularly informed of this progress.

For students who have reached the age of 14, the IEP must also address transition needs. The IEP team will also determine whether a child is eligible for Extended School Year services.