The Individualized Education Plan: The Experiences of General Educators and School Counselors

This study investigated the experiences and opinions of general educators (GE) and school counselors (SC) in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the Individualized Education Plans (IEP). Qualitative model was utilized. The participants of the study included 12 GEs and 11 SCs working in elemantary schools located in Izmir (Turkey). The data were gathered via four focus group discussions, two with GEs and two with SCs and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Seven themes emerged for both GEs and SCs, with high levels of consistency across the two groups of data. Results revealed the necessity of professional development and lifelong learning opportunities for the school staff, effective communication and collaboration among all parties and the provision of support services to all the students for successful IEP and mainstreaming/inclusive practices