ARD vs IEP: What Is the Difference in Texas?
In Texas, the ARD committee is the group of people who meet to make special education decisions, and the IEP is the written document they create. ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal. Everywhere else in the country this same team is called the IEP team. Texas just uses a different name. So an ARD meeting is simply Texas's version of an IEP meeting.
What ARD stands for
ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal committee. The name describes what the committee does: it admits a student into special education, reviews the program over time, and dismisses the student when services are no longer needed.
ARD is the team, IEP is the document
This is the key distinction. The ARD committee is the people and the meeting. The IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is the written plan the committee develops, reviews, and revises. When Texans say "we have an ARD coming up," they mean the meeting. When they say "what's in the IEP," they mean the document.
Who is on the ARD committee
The required members include the parent or parents, at least one general education teacher if the child is or may be in general education, at least one special education teacher or provider, a representative of the district who can commit resources and is knowledgeable about the general curriculum, and someone who can interpret the evaluation results. The student is included when transition and after-high-school goals are discussed. Other people with knowledge about your child may attend at your request or the district's.
What is different about Texas
A few Texas rules stand out. You must get at least 5 school days notice before an ARD meeting. Texas ARD committees work by consensus, meaning the committee tries to reach agreement rather than voting. If the committee cannot agree, you can ask for a recess of up to 10 school days to give everyone time to regroup. Texas also has specific membership rules, including a dyslexia specialist when dyslexia eligibility is considered and a bilingual or LPAC representative for emergent bilingual students.
What happens at an ARD meeting
The committee reviews evaluation data, decides or confirms eligibility, sets goals, determines services and accommodations, and decides placement. Everything the committee agrees to becomes part of the IEP document, which is legally binding on the school.
Walking into an ARD prepared changes the outcome. Understand the Texas timelines that lead up to it. An advocate can prepare you before the meeting and stand with you during it.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ARD stand for?+
ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal committee. It is the Texas term for the special education team that makes decisions about a student's services.
Is an ARD meeting the same as an IEP meeting?+
Yes. In Texas, the ARD meeting is the same thing that the rest of the country calls the IEP team meeting.
What is the difference between ARD and IEP?+
The ARD committee is the group of people and the meeting they hold. The IEP is the written document the committee creates and updates.
Who is on the ARD committee?+
The required members include the parent, a general education teacher, a special education teacher or provider, a district representative, and someone who can interpret evaluation results. The student attends when transition goals are discussed.
Have an ARD coming up?
Send us the draft ARD paperwork before we talk. Preparation changes what you can ask for in the room.