This handbook provides guidelines to assist North Dakota educators who are developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. It is presented in four sections. The first section highlights the major changes brought about by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including increased emphasis on results for children with disabilities, access to the general education curriculum, parent involvement, discipline, and behavior issues. Section 2 briefly describes the IEP process, including its purpose, sequencing of steps, timelines, and roles and responsibilities of meeting participants. Section 3 discusses the principles underlying each of the components of the IEP process and the resulting document. The last section provides instructions for completion of the state-recommended IEP form. Throughout this document, quotations from new IDEA law, regulations, and other supportive documents are included so special education personnel can read the actual wording, and in some cases, the description of the intention of Congress in making changes to the law. Appendices present additional guidance for IEP teams and include an interpretation of the IEP regulations, IDEA regulations, transition IEP forms, discipline provisions, and sample IEP forms. (CR)