Latvia: Individual education plans and school support
Latvia's General Education Law and Cabinet Regulation No. 447 set out requirements for individual education programme plans for pupils with special needs in general education. This guide explains what parents can ask their school to confirm.
Use this guide to prepare informed questions. It is not an individual assessment or legal advice; procedures depend on your child's circumstances and the responsible school or authority.
What is the individual plan?
Latvia uses the term individuālais izglītības programmas apguves plāns (individual plan for completing an education programme). The General Education Law provides for an individual plan for enrolled learners with special needs. Under Cabinet Regulation No. 447, the head of the school establishes the school's procedures and responsibilities for developing and implementing the plan.
The rules describe involvement of teachers, support professionals and parents. They also refer to opinions of pedagogical medical commissions or relevant specialists in determining support measures. Do not assume every child has exactly the same assessment or referral route.
Timelines and review under the 2026 regulation
- Plan preparation: the rules specify that a plan is developed no later than 21 calendar days after the relevant opinion is received.
- Preschool: the plan can cover up to 12 months and its implementation is evaluated at least once every six months.
- Primary and secondary education: plans run up to the end of the relevant school year, with evaluation twice per school year.
- When support is insufficient: the rules describe reassessing needs and updating the plan and support measures, with parents informed.
Effective date: Regulation No. 447 came into force on 1 September 2026. The earlier Regulation No. 556 was repealed. For any dispute about timing or scope, consult the official Latvian text and your school.
What should parents ask to see?
- Which specialist or pedagogical medical commission opinion is the school using?
- Who is responsible for coordinating and implementing the individual plan?
- What specific teaching, accessibility or other support measures are included?
- When was the relevant opinion received, and when was the plan developed?
- What is the next scheduled review, and how will progress be shared with parents?
- How will the plan be changed if the current support is not working?
Read the current framework
- Cabinet Regulation No. 447 (Latvijas Vēstnesis, Latvian) — plan duties, 21-day preparation rule and review arrangements.
- Latvia General Education Law (English translation) — statutory context for individual plans.
- Latvian Ministry of Education: Inclusive and special education — ministry resources and updates.
The official regulation is in Latvian. English descriptions here are explanatory summaries, not an authoritative legal translation.