Frequently Asked Questions
How IEP Pre-Flight works, how your draft text is handled, FERPA and data questions, pricing and the free tier, and district adoption. Answers for special-education teachers and district teams.
About the Tool
What exactly does IEP Pre-Flight do?
It reviews IEP draft language, goals, present levels, SDI descriptions, accommodations, NOREPs, and more, and returns structured feedback: what is missing, what is vague, and suggested revisions. Think of it as a supportive co-pilot who reads your drafts and asks the questions a hearing officer would ask, before the IEP team meeting.
Is this legal advice?
No. IEP Pre-Flight is an educational drafting tool. It references IDEA regulations and research-based practice, but it does not constitute legal advice and cannot certify that any document is compliant. Always run final language through your district's review process, and consult legal counsel for complex situations.
Can I use this in an IEP meeting?
Yes, as a drafting aid to sharpen language before or after the meeting. We would encourage you not to run live AI queries during a meeting while a family is present, that can feel off-putting. Instead, use Pre-Flight in your prep work, then bring polished drafts to the table for team discussion and family input.
Who built this? Is there a company behind it?
IEP Pre-Flight is an early-access tool built by a small team with a background in special education practice and technology. It is currently in active development. Questions or feedback: [email protected].
AI & Data
What AI model powers the tool?
Claude by Anthropic. The specific model varies by plan to balance quality and response speed. Claude is a large language model trained on broad text including special education literature, IDEA regulatory text, and case law. See our AI & Data Use Disclosure for full details.
Does my data get used to train the AI?
No. Your text passes through multiple PII-detection layers, pattern matching, in-house name detection, and Google's data-protection service, that remove names and identifiers before the de-identified text reaches the AI. The AI provider (Anthropic) does not use API inputs for model training per their usage policy. Your draft language does not become training data. See AI & Data Use Disclosure for details.
Is it FERPA compliant?
IEP Pre-Flight is built for IEP draft language, goal text, present levels, SDI descriptions, not for student records. Used as intended (draft language, no student name or ID), you are not entering an education record. The tool also applies automatic PII detection as a backstop. Whether your specific use meets your district's FERPA policy is a district determination; if you are adopting it school or district wide, confirm with your tech coordinator first. See our District Approval Guide.
Should I enter my student's actual name and ID?
You do not need to, and it will not improve the feedback. The tool only needs the draft language itself: "The student will..." or "Student reads at 3rd-grade level" works perfectly. If a name does slip in, the tool's automatic PII detection will remove it before the AI sees it. The cleanest practice is to just write generically, it is faster and it is how the tool is designed to be used.
How long is my data kept?
The text you paste is never stored. We keep only a one-way hash (a scrambled fingerprint that cannot be turned back into your words) and its character length. The analysis results, the feedback and stronger-draft suggestions the tool returns, are saved to your flight log for up to 12 months, then deleted; you can delete any result yourself at any time. Account data is kept until you close your account. You can request early deletion by emailing [email protected]. See the full Privacy Policy.
Account & Subscription
What is included in the free tier?
The free tier includes the Goal Red Flag Check, the Hazard Log (common IEP writing pitfalls), and access to all IDEA reference material. It is designed to give you a real feel for the tool: 10 Pre-Flight Checks per month (up to 3 per day), no time limit and no credit card required.
What does Pro add over Starter?
Pro unlocks three features not available at lower tiers: the Flight Logbook (save and refine results over time), Checklists & Flight Plans (downloadable progress monitoring and data collection forms), and Course Charting (charts your goals to your state's official grade-level standards, naming the Common Core code where your state uses it, with a direct link to the source).
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes, cancel anytime from your billing portal and you will keep access through the end of the paid period with no further charges. To open the portal, sign in and go to Account, then Manage Subscription. Questions: [email protected].
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Click Forgot password? on the sign-in screen. Enter your email and we will send a reset link within seconds. The link expires in 1 hour. If you do not see the email, check your spam folder.
Is my account secure?
Yes. Passwords are stored as bcrypt hashes (not in plain text). Session tokens are httpOnly cookies, not accessible to browser JavaScript. All traffic is encrypted over HTTPS in production. We do not store payment card numbers on our servers.
Districts & Schools
Can my whole SpEd team use this?
Currently IEP Pre-Flight is priced for individual teachers. If you are a building admin or district coordinator interested in a team or school-wide pilot, join our district waitlist and we will reach out as that tier opens.
My district needs a vendor form completed. Can you help?
Yes. Email [email protected] with the form or its questions and we will complete it. See our District Approval Guide for a head start, it answers the most common questions with copy-paste language.
What is the District/LEA edition?
The District edition (accessible from your account after logging in) provides tools for building principals, SpEd coordinators, and district administrators: IEP quality checklists, District/LEA observation frameworks, coaching email drafts, and more. Access is included with the Pro plan.
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