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IEP Online Course

When it comes to helping your children get the most out of pre-school, IEPs should be an opportunity, not an obstacle!

Pre-school is a time like no other in a child’s educational and emotional development—and you want to be laying the groundwork for a lifetime of learning, not setting up skills for children to check off a list. Early Childhood Special Education specialist Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak’s online course shows you how to support every child by writing preschool-specific IEPs that help each one flourish.

YOUR CHALLENGE

Writing IEPs can seem like pointless paperwork—when you’d rather be focused on the vital task of helping preschoolers love learning!

YOUR SOLUTION

After taking this four-module, 12-lesson course, you'll think about preschool IEPs in a whole new way—and write them so that they’re as meaningful as they are measurable.

Preview the Course

How will this course revolutionize my IEPs?

While completing four modules of coursework, you’ll master a framework and a formula that makes writing transformative preschool IEPs second nature. Learn to make data-driven decisions and design preschool IEP goals that are innovative, impactful, and inspiring.

Building the Framework

MODULE 1

Writing Worthy Outcomes for Preschool IEPs

Lesson 1.1
Present Level Assessment
The first step of any IEP is the PLAAFP—the Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance. You’ll examine the qualities of a PLAAFP that can serve as an effective guide for all other decisions regarding a child’s IEP, then revise how you write PLAAFP using the formula for describing how the child’s disability impacts their access to the curriculum and daily activities. Finally, you’ll compare and contrast PLAAFPs to see what makes them effective—or not.
LESSON 1.2
Applying the Four Filters
In this lesson you’ll learn how to use my “four filters” to generate IEP-worthy goals. Next, you will develop questions designed to help you determine what a child needs to learn, and whether those needs require specially designed instruction. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to examine the extent to which various IEP goals “pass” the four filters.
LESSON 1.3
What Makes an IEP Goal Functional?
You’ll learn to distinguish between functional and nonfunctional IEP goals by considering why and how a child’s participation and independence is impacted, and demonstrate an understanding of the importance of increasing each child’s participation and independence during daily activities and routines. Finally, you’ll evaluate IEP goals to determine their functional importance.
LESSON 1.4
What Makes an IEP Goal Measurable?
In this lesson you’ll learn how to define what is “measurable” as it relates to IEP goals, then you’ll demonstrate the use of the A, B, C formula for writing meaningful IEP goals. Next, it’s time for some self-reflection; you’ll consider the extent to which your IEP goals met measurability requirements.

MODULE 2

Distinguishing Disability Versus Difference

LESSON 2.1
Assessing Ability—and Disability
For a child with diverse abilities, there is a measurable, and meaningful, distinction between a disability, a delay, and a difference. You will hone your skills at distinguishing between disabilities, delays, and differences. You’ll master how to analyze stressors that block children from learning—and block you from learning as well. You’ll also learn to articulate how triggers have impacted learning for yourself, and for children you serve.
LESSON 2.2
Making Data-Driven Decisions
What makes a result interpretable? Data. In this lesson you’ll learn to identify each step in the data-driven decision-making (DDDM) process, demonstrate how DDDM is a necessary aspect of writing meaningful—and legally defensible—IEPs. Next, you’ll evaluate how the DDDM process supports the identification, and implementation of developmentally appropriate, specially designed instruction that matches children’s needs.

MODULE 3

Selecting Criteria

LESSON 3.1
What Will Convince You?
How you measure children’s performance matters just as much as the data itself. In this lesson, you’ll define the five dimensions of behavior that can be used as criteria for IEP goals, then learn how to develop IEP goals using SMART monitoring criteria which is Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Limited. You’ll also compare and contrast ways to write criteria using quantitative and qualitative statements.
LESSON 3.2
What Can You Manage?
In this lesson, you’ll distinguish between the various ways data can be collected, documented, and summarized. You’ll discover how to use DDDM process to write IEPs for preschoolers that are legally defensible. You’ll also learn to use discernment when setting criteria for IEP goals, and evaluate how to make connections between the need for enough data to make sound decisions, and the resources available to gather what is required.
LESSON 3.3
What Matters Most?
None of this data is meaningful in a vacuum; it’s all connected to children and their families. In this lesson, you will explore the importance of relationships between members of the IEP team (including families and children) in terms of identifying IEP goals and planning specially designed instruction. You’ll engage in writing IEPs using your heart and mind as you consider what matters to you, children, and families.

MODULE 4

Helping Children When They Struggle

LESSON 4.1
Zigging and Zagging
In order to efficiently, and effectively, assess children and write meaningful IEP goals, you’ll learn to apply my Zig Zag Process. This process helps as you evaluate the performance of diverse learners, including children who struggle, but who may not quality for early childhood special education services. You’ll utilize new skills to identify IEP goals and design instruction that falls within a child’s zone of proximal development. And you’ll reflect on when, where, and under what context you have observed any of seven learning progressions identified in this lesson.
LESSON 4.2
Seeing Children as “Triangles”
In this lesson, you’ll learn the concept of the “messy middle” as it applies to the complexities and interrelated nature of early development and learning. Using that concept, you’ll develop the skills to analyze a child’s tiered needs in relation to common outcomes, and to consider how a child’s needs vary and change based upon the demands of the situation.
LESSON 4.3
Identifying Learning Trajectories
After exploring the importance of looking for patterns across data sources, you’ll demonstrate how these patterns can help determine why a child may be struggling or why development has stalled. Finally, you’ll reflect on common themes in what is known about early learning and development.

It’s your class—take it whenever and however you learn best! Dip in and out of all 12 self-paced lessons, taking advantage of a variety of platforms and materials. For the one-time cost of $299 you’ll receive:

Lifetime Enrollment

Revisit the materials at any time and revitalize your skills

Universal Access

Web-based course materials can be accessed on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone

Bonus Materials

Learn from video tutorials, audio files, class transcripts, and downloadable and reusable handouts

Teachers, students, classrooms, and entire school systems
have been transformed by the Meaningful IEP Course.

Thank you for putting together this course! It is very much needed and is extremely helpful for me in writing better IEPs. The information and knowledge you share will be so beneficial to my students. I've often felt like I've floundered around writing the present level, not sure if I was hitting the necessary information. Your guidelines change that, thank you."

Marna Kumpula, M. Ed.
Early Childhood Special Education

Click here to download a matrix that illustrates what is included across modules and lessons

Crossing the street with 80% accuracy is measurable,
but it certainly isn’t meaningful

Start Writing More Effective,

Empowering IEPs

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or member of an evaluation team, the first step in helping every child who receives ECSE services learn is an IEP that is both measurable and meaningful.

ENROLL TO REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR IEPs NOW

MEET THE COURSE LEADER:

Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak

An accomplished author, sought-after consultant, and educator’s educator, Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak has almost three decades of experience in writing meaningful IEPs. Her revolutionary framework and formula for designing effective and empowering preschool IEPs is currently being studied in universities and implemented in school systems throughout the United States. Dr. Pretti-Frontczak spent 16 years as a tenured professor in Higher Education at Kent State University before leaving to lead a {r}evolution in early childhood education. Now, through comprehensive classes, thought-provoking keynote addresses, and practical resources for teachers, she’s guiding adult professionals who work with our youngest students toward developing their emotional intelligence, reclaiming children’s right to learn through play and reimagining more inclusive classrooms. She has written six textbooks, two workbooks, and AEPS curricular system, served as past President of the International Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, and spent over 50,000 hours teaching adults best practices in early childhood care and education in locations from Cincinnati to Singapore. It’s all part of her effort to build kinder, more inclusive, and more creative classrooms- and therefore, a better world. 

Learn from Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak’s expertise
join the course now.

ANY LAST QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU START INNOVATING YOUR APPROACH TO PRESCHOOL IEPs—AND TRANSFORMING STUDENTS’ LIVES?

For more information, click here to download a crosswalk between current ECE topics and trends and lessons. Click here for course objectives by lesson. Click here to view available group licenses.

To experience the course for yourself, click here to watch a sample lesson from module one on measurability.

And again, click here to learn about licenses that are available for students enrolled in a college course, a team of ECSE providers, or an entire school system—as the states of Iowa, Virginia, and  Alaska have done.

Contact Dr. Pretti-Frontczak for customized licensing and pricing options that will make the course work for your needs.

To reach Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak with any other inquiries, click here