Common Acronyms & Roles Guide

Special education comes with lots of moving parts—and plenty of acronyms! This page simplifies it all with quick explanations of common terms, job title variations, and classroom settings.

Whether you’re new or just need a refresher, this guide will help you feel more confident and in-the-know.

Common Acronyms in Special Education

• SPED – Special Education
  Refers to special education services and roles.

• IEP – Individualized Education Program
  A legal plan outlining goals and services for students with disabilities.

• FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education
  The educational right of students under IDEA.

• IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  Federal law protecting students with disabilities.

• 504 – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
  Provides accommodations for students who don’t qualify for an IEP.

• MTSS – Multi-Tiered System of Supports
  Framework for academic and behavior support across school settings.

• RTI – Response to Intervention
  Tiered academic interventions within MTSS.

• ABA – Applied Behavior Analysis
  A therapy often used with students with autism.

• BCBA – Board Certified Behavior Analyst
  A specialist in behavior support and intervention planning.

• SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
  Supports speech, language, and communication skills.

• OT – Occupational Therapist
  Helps with fine motor skills, sensory needs, and daily living.

• PT – Physical Therapist
  Focuses on gross motor and physical mobility needs.

• ESY – Extended School Year
  Services beyond the typical school year, based on IEP needs.

• ED – Emotional Disability (or Disturbance)
  A category for students with significant emotional needs.

• LD – Learning Disability
  A category for students with specific learning needs.

• OHI – Other Health Impairment
  Includes diagnoses like ADHD, epilepsy, etc.

• ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
  A common eligibility category under IDEA.

• ID – Intellectual Disability
  Refers to students with below-average cognitive functioning.

• BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
  Customized strategies to address behavior concerns.

• FBA – Functional Behavior Assessment
  Evaluates why a student may be engaging in certain behaviors.

• SEL – Social-Emotional Learning
  Skills related to emotion regulation, relationships, and self-awareness.

• LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
  Educational setting where students with disabilities learn alongside peers to the greatest extent possible.

• SOAP Notes – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
  Structured format used by therapists to document sessions and track progress.

• IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan
  Support plan for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) receiving early intervention services.

• EC – Early Childhood / Exceptional Children’s
  State-specific term; may refer to early intervention (birth–3) or special education services.

• ARD Committee – Admission, Review, and Dismissal
  State-specific term for the IEP team that develops and reviews special education plans.

• SST – Student Support Team
  Team of educators and caregivers collaborating to support students with academic, behavioral, or social needs.

• Teacher of DHH – Teacher of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  Educator supporting students with hearing loss or who identify as part of the Deaf community.

Common Support Roles & Alternate Titles

• School Psychologist
  – Sometimes called Educational Psychologist (outside the U.S.)

• School Social Worker
  – Also known as Mental Health Support Specialist

• SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist)
  – May also be listed as Speech Therapist or Communication Specialist

• OT (Occupational Therapist)
  – Often written as OTR/L (Registered/Licensed)

• PT (Physical Therapist)
  – May hold DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) credential

• BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)
  – Sometimes called Behavior Consultant or Behavior Specialist

• Paraprofessional
  – Also seen as Teacher Assistant, Instructional Aide, 1:1 Aide, or Classroom Support Aide

SPED Teacher Title Variations

Different terms are used for similar roles depending on location or program focus:

• Special Education Teacher / Education Specialist / Instructional Specialist (SPED) / Intervention Specialist
  – General SPED role term across grades and settings.

• Learning Specialist
  – Common in inclusion or co-taught classrooms.

• Self-Contained Teacher
  – Works in classroom with students with IEPS only and have more direct needs all or most of the day.

• Resource Teacher
  – Provides small-group or push-in support for part of the day.

• Inclusion Teacher
  – Co-teaches or supports students in general education classrooms.

• ECSE / Early Childhood SPED
  – Teaches preschool-aged students (3–5) with IEPs

• Autism/ED/ID Teacher
  – Specializes in one area of eligibility (e.g., autism or emotional needs) in a self-contained classroom.

• Life Skills / Functional Academics Teacher
  – Focuses on daily living, communication, and functional learning in a self-contained classroom.

• Behavior Support Teacher
  – Provides targeted behavior interventions, either school-wide or in a specific setting.

SPED Classroom Settings Explained

• Inclusion (sometimes “Blended” in Pre-K)
  – Students with IEPs learn in general education classes with supports.

• Self-Contained

  – Students with more direct needs learn in a dedicated special education setting with specialized instruction and support.

• Push-In Services
  – SPED or related staff come into the gen ed classroom to support students.

• Pull-Out Services
  – Students leave the gen ed classroom for small-group or individual instruction.

• Co-Teaching
  – A general and special educator work together to teach all students in one classroom with the special educator modifying work for students with IEPs and/or monitoring and providing accommodations

• Consultation
  – SPED staff support general educators through meetings and strategy-sharing, without directly working with the student.

• Resource Support
  – Targeted academic help, usually in a pull-out model.

• Collaborative Teaching
  – SPED and general educators plan and support instruction together (blends push-in/co-teaching).

• Learning Lab
  – A separate space for academic support, executive functioning help, or accommodations (often in middle or high school).