IFSP vs IEP identification: which statement is true?

• A. IFSP identifies current level of development; IEP identifies academic performance.
• B. IFSP identifies academic performance; IEP identifies development level.
• C. IFSP includes school attendance; IEP does not.
• D. IFSP is only for school-aged children.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the difference in purpose and scope between IFSP and IEP. An IFSP is used for early intervention with children from birth through about age 3 (often up to age 2–3, depending on state rules). It centers on the child’s current level of development across multiple domains—cognitive, communication, social-emotional, physical, and adaptive development—and also includes family needs and supports. An IEP, for school-aged children, focuses on how the disability affects involvement in and progress in the general curriculum, and it spells out present levels of performance (including academic and functional performance), annual goals, and required services.

So the true statement reflects that the IFSP identifies the child’s current development level, while the IEP centers on academic performance within the educational setting. In practice, an IEP’s present levels cover both academic and functional aspects, but the core distinction aligns with developmental focus in the IFSP versus educational achievement focus in the IEP.