As a special educator of over 45 years, I have spent countless hours writing, editing, and revising IEPs. People who write IEPs are committed to doing what is correct and appropriate for all students they work with, yet often dread writing an IEP. The BlumeMethod seeks to make the process of IEP writing easier by providing formulas and sentence starters that individuals can embed in their practice. The formulas and sentence starters help to ease the IEP process and provide consistency from one level to the next and from one building to the next, all while maintaining the concept of individualization as a core element of IEP writing. It cannot be written wrong when writers focus on free, appropriate public education, the least restrictive environment, and a good faith effort to identify necessary supports and services to the IEP process. However, it can be written easier, more efficiently, and more consistently.
Overview of The BlumeMethod
The 2001 IEP, the new IEP, and the Blume IEP Manual Massachusetts last had a new IEP in 2001. This new 2023 IEP form provides a unique opportunity for districts and special educators to consider making the IEP meaningful for all stakeholders. This new IEP provides a rare opportunity to review old practices and let go of those that no longer apply. This new IEP is evidence and data driven. The Blume Method and the manual seek to assist teams in making IEP writing easier efficient, more meaningful, and consistent across a district. The manual includes formulas, templates, and sentence starters that teams may use to create the IEP without the loss of individualization. The use of this approach may result in systems change.
The BlumeMethod.app The BlumeMethod app is a tool for gathering and documenting information from various stakeholders, general educators, special educators, related service providers, and others to assist Teams in developing new, annual, re-evaluation IEPs. The app organizes checklists into four categories: academics, behavioral/social/emotional, communication, and additional areas aligning with the forthcoming Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) pages in the new MA IEP. Each of the four categories contains checklists for need areas relative to the category. Academics – Reading, Writing for Purpose, Writing Mechanics, Writing Process, Math, Executive Function, and Play skills. Behavioral/Social/Emotional – Behavioral, Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship, and Decision-Making skills. Communication – Expressive Language, Receptive Language, and Social Pragmatic Language skills. Additional Areas – Pre-voc./Employability, Daily Living, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, and Visual Motor skills. Respondents can complete the checklists in less than ten minutes, and once completed, the app creates an editable narrative summary that the Team can use for IEP development.
Licensing
The BlumeMethod app is licensed for one year during the start-up year, with all updates provided to school districts. After the first-year school districts have the option of purchase three-year renewable licenses.
Package –
21 checklists plus downloadable version of the BlumeMethod manual, IEP with templates and PowerPoint training slides)
In development – two additional checklists for Educational Assessment Forms A and B
Price tailored to school district special education population.
For information about the BlumeMethod app and package contact Allan at [email protected]