Parent Handbook Of
Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD
Office of Human Resources
Handbook of
Educational Acronyms K-12
Most professions have their own jargon, and education is certainly no exception. In fact, teachers and school administrators often use acronyms, initials and abbreviations in our everyday communication. Without any intention, we have been told that this is sometimes confusing and frustrating to parents and community members.
As a result, we have created this handbook to inform and educate. The enclosed list of acronyms is by no means all inclusive but it does contain many “generic” educational terms as well as some that pertain only to our school district.
We hope that you find this a useful resource. As always, your input and participation is welcome and appreciated.
What is an acronym?
Ac-ro-nym (ak’ronim’)- the dictionary defines acronym as a word formed from the initial letters of a name or combining the initial letters or parts of a series of words. It is a special type of abbreviation, made up from the initial letters of the words of a phrase, like FBI for Federal Bureau of Investigation ( the word acronym itselfcomes from the Greek for ‘head’ and ‘name’). Modern acronyms sometimes also use capitalized letters from the middle of a word as well, like XML for eXtensible Markup Language.
For your convenience, the following is a listing of the most commonly used K-12 educational acronyms.
A
ABA Applied Behavioral Analysis
ABCAcademic Behavior Contract
AIS Academic Intervention Services
AC Augmentative Communication
ACT AmericanCollege Testing
ADA American with Disabilities Act
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHDAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ADLActivities for Daily Living
AE Age Equivalent
AED Automated Electronic Difibulator
AI Autistically Impaired
AISAcademic Intervention Services
AMAOAnnual Measurable Achievement Objective (NCLB)
AMOAnnual Measurable Objective (NCLB)
AP Advanced Placement
APE Adaptive Physical Education
APRAnnual Performance Report (State report on SPP performance)
APPRAnnual Professional Performance Review
ASCDAssociation of Supervision and Curriculum Development
ASL American Sign Language
AT Assistive Technology
AUAutism
AUPAcceptable Use Policy for the Internet
B
BABachelor of Arts
BEDSBasic Educational Data System
BICSBasic Interpersonal Communication Skills
BIPBehavioral Intervention Plan
BOCES Board of Cooperative Educational Services
BOE Board of Education
C
CALPCognitive Academic Language Proficiency
CAPA Child Abuse Prevention Act
CBVHCommission for the Blind & Visually Handicapped
CCF Council on Children & Families
CCM Comprehensive Case Management
CCR&RChild Care Resource & Referral
CDC Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
CDOSCareer Development and Occupational Studies Learning
Standards
CEISComprehensive Early Intervening Services
CEPComprehensive Educational Plan
COTACertified Occupational Therapy Assistant
COWSComputers on Wheels
CP Cerebral Palsy
CPICrisis Prevention Institute
CPS Child Protective Services
CPSECommittee on Preschool Special Education
CSE Committee on Special Education
CSEISComprehensive Special Education Information System
CSICognitive Skills Index (I. Q. as reported on Terra Nova)
CST Child Study Team
CSW Certified Social Worker
CTConsultant Teacher
CTECareer and Technical Education
D
DATAGData Analysis Technical Assistance Group
DB Deaf-Blindness
DBQ Document Based Question
DD Developmental Disability
DDP Developmental Disabilities Profile
DDPCDevelopmental Disabilities Planning Council
DDSODevelopmental Disabilities Services Office
DFDeafness
DFY Division for Youth
DHH Deaf/Hard of Hearing
DINIDistricts in Need of Improvement
DMH Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
DOHDepartment of Health
DRG Diagnostic Related Group
DSS Department of Social Services
DTU Daily Tune Up
DTx Day Treatment
E
ECDCEarly ChildhoodDirectionCenter
Ed.D. Doctor of Education
ED Emotionally Disturbed
EI Early Intervention
EIOEarly Intervention Official
ELA English Language Arts
ELLsEnglish Language Learners
ELP English Literacy Profile
Also, English Language Proficiency (no longer LEP)
ERSS Education Educationally Related Support Services
ESEAElementary and Secondary Education Act
ESL English as a Second Language
ESTEducational Support Team
ESYExtended School Year
F
FAPEFree and Appropriate Public Education
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FBAFunctional Behavioral Analysis
FC Family Care
FERPAFamily Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FLEPFormer Limited English Proficient
FOIL Freedom of Information Law
FSS Family Support Services
FTE Full Time Equivalent
FY Fiscal Year
G
GEDGeneral Equivalency Diploma
H
HCBSHome & Community Based Services Waiver
HHS Health and Human Services
HI Hearing Impaired
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HOHHard of Hearing (sometimes just HH)
I
IAESInterim Alternative Educational Setting
IASAImproving America’s Schools Act
ICF/DDIntermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally
Disabled
ILIInfluenza-like Illness
ICF/MRIntermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
IDEAIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIAIndividuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
IEEIndependent Educational Evaluation
IESPIndividualized Education Services Program
IEP Individualized Education Program
IFSP Individualized Family Service Plan
IHEInstitution of Higher Education
IHO Impartial Hearing Officer
IH Impartial Hearing
ILC IndependentLivingCenter
IQIntelligence Quotient
IRA Individual Residence Alternative
IRTItem Response Theory
ISP Individual Service Plan
IT Interdisciplinary Team
ITT Interdisciplinary Treatment Team
IQ Intelligence Quotient
J
JITJoint Intervention Team (NYSED Differentiated
Accountability)
K
K-12 Kindergarten through 12th Grade
L
LAPLocal Assistance Plan (NCLB)
LABLanguage Assessment Battery
LD Learning Disabled
LEALocal Education Agency
LEAPLocal Education Agency Program Reports (up to grade 8)
LEP Limited English Proficient
LOTELanguages Other Than English
LRE Least Restrictive Environment
LTLLong Term LEP (Limited English Proficient)
M
MA Master of Arts
MA Medicaid
MAPSManagement, Academic, Physical, Social (4 required areas in PLPs)
MD Multiple Disabilities
MR Mentally Retarded
MS Master of Science
MS-13Local Gang
MST Math Science and Technology
N
NCLB“No Child Left Behind” Act
NCPIENational Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
NHS National Honor Society
NIE National Institute of Education
NJHSNational Junior Honor Society
NYSAANew York State Alternate Assessment
NYSCEANew YorkState Council of Educational Associations
NYSCAME New YorkState Council of Administrators of Music
Education
NYSEDNew York State Education Department
NYSESLAT New YorkState English as a Second Language
Achievement Test
NYSSMANew YorkStateSchool Music Association
NYSUTNew YorkState United Teachers
O
OASASOffice of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
O.A.S.I.S.Opportunities for Academic Success in School (After/Before
School Intervention Program)
OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCFSOffice of Children and Family Services
ODD Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI Other Health Impaired
OI Orthopedically Impaired
OMH Office of Mental Health
OMRDDOffice of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
OSSOfficial Station Soldiers (local gang)
OT Occupational Therapy
P
PARAParaprofessional
PARPParents As Reading Partners
PCENPupils with Compensatory Educational Needs
PEPhysical Education
PENPublic Education Network
PDPupils with Disabilities (PD) System
Professional Development
PDD Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PDD-NOSPervasive Developmental Disorder – not otherwise specified
PDP Professional Development Plan
PDSPersistently Dangerous School (NCLB)
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy
PIPerformance Index
PINSPerson in Need of Supervision
PIRProgram Information Report (AIS/Title I)
P.L.94-142The Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
PLPPresent Level of Performance (also PLEP or PLOP)
PO Purchase Order
PPS Pupil Personnel Services
Pre-KPre-Kindergarten
PRIMPre Referral Intervention Manual
PSATPreliminary Scholastic Assessment Test
PSTPupil Services Team
PT Physical Therapy
PTA Parent Teacher Association
PTSAParent Teacher Student Association
PWDPreschooler with a Disability
Q
R
RARegional Associate
RCTRegents Competency Test
RFP Request for Proposals
RRResource Room
RTRecreational Therapist
RtIResponse to Intervention
RSRelated Services
RSE-TASCRegionalSpecialEducationTechnicalAssistanceSupportCenter
RTFResidential Treatment Facility
S
SDASchool District Administrator
SAS School District Supervisor
SATScholastic Assessment Test
SAVE(Project SAVE) Safe Schools Against Violence in Education
SANYSSchool Administrators of New YorkState
SCANSSecretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills for Employment
SEAStudents Excelling Academically (special ed. before school
Program – SMS/SW)
Section “504” Accommodation Plan of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
SED State Education Department
SEIT Special Education Itinerant Teacher Services
SEPTASpecial Education Parent Teacher Association
SEQASpecial Education Quality Assurance Unit, VESID, SED
SESISSpecialEducationSchool Improvement Specialist
SETRCSpecial Education Training Resource Centers
SHAASouth Huntington Administrator’s Association
SHTASouth Huntington Teacher’s Association
SI Speech Impaired
SINISchool in Need of Improvement (NCLB)
SIRSStudent Information Repository System
SLP Speech/Language Pathology
SP Speech Pathology
SPCSpecial Class
SPPState Performance Plan
SRAPSchool Requiring Academic Progress (NCLB)
SROState Review Officer
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SSPSouth Side Posse (local gang)
ST Speech Therapy
STARSchool Tax Relief
STEPSystem for Tracking Educational Progress (high school)
SURRSchools UnderRegistration Review
SWDStudent with Disabilities
SWPSchoolwide Program (Title I)
T
TA Teacher Assistant
TASTargeted Assistance Program (Title I)
TASHThe Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TC Teachers College
TCSTransition Coordination Sites
TDD Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf
TESOLTeachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
TITLE IFunds for supplemental educational services under NCLB
TONYSSTest of New YorkState Standards
TPHI Third Party Health Insurance
TRAIDTechnology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
TRETechnology Resource for Education
TRO Temporary Restraining Order
TRSTeachers’ Retirement System
TTY Teletypewriter
U
UPKUniversal Pre-Kindergarten
USDOEUS Department of Education
V
VESID Office of Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities.
VI Visually Impaired
VPNVirtual Private Network
VR Vocational Rehabilitation
W
WIC Women, Infants and Children
X, Y, Z
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