One difference between an IFSP and an IEP is that the IFSP …

• A. Provides the services of various therapists
• B. Identifies an appropriate educational setting to provide services
• C. Determines the etiology of the disability
• D. Builds upon the individual strengths of the family

Answer: (D)

An IFSP is family-centered. It starts by looking at the family's strengths, routines, concerns, and resources, and uses those as the foundation for planning services that support the child's development in natural settings. That focus on partnering with and building on what the family brings to the table is what differentiates an IFSP from an IEP. An IEP, by contrast, is school-focused and centers on the child’s educational goals, needs, and placement within the educational system. So the statement that the IFSP builds upon the individual strengths of the family captures the essential difference.

The other options describe aspects that aren’t unique to the IFSP. Providing services from various therapists can be part of either plan; identifying an educational setting is more about school placement decisions typically associated with the IEP; and determining the etiology of the disability is outside the planning focus of these documents, being more medical/diagnostic.