Helping parents navigate the special education process and build collaborative relationships with the IEP team

Whether you are preparing for your first IEP meeting or the 15th, these tips will help you have stress-free nights before the Meeting. If you are ready with all the information you need, you can join the meeting as an equal team member, not an adversary. Follow these 10 tips to make sure you are ready to be a collaborative and equal team member at your next IEP meeting.

*These tips are for annual or initial IEP meetings. Consent & Assessment Planning (or Domain) meetings and Eligibility meetings are different types of IEP meetings and require different types of planning.

1. Figure out the IEP “due date.”
   • Once your child has an IEP, they must have an IEP meeting at least yearly. That means if your last IEP meeting was on February 2nd, 2021, the next IEP meeting must be held by February 2nd, 2022. Knowing the due date can help you make sure you have all the documents and information ready by the meeting due date.
   • Some schools may schedule the meeting a few weeks before the due date. Email your child’s case manager to see if they have an idea of when the meeting will be.
   • If this is your child’s first IEP, then the IEP meeting will take place within 10 days after the eligibility meeting, but only if you child is eligible for an IEP. Download the IEP Evaluation Flowchart to understand the eligibility process.
2. Know who will be at the meeting
   • You should receive Prior Written Notice (PWN) informing you of the type and purpose of the meeting, the time, the location, and who is invited. Make sure all the teachers and related service providers you want in the meeting are on that list.
3. Communicate your concerns and goals for your child.
   • Every IEP has a parent input section. Oftentimes, this section is overlooked or neglected, but it is the perfect place for your to voice your concerns and aspirations for your child before the IEP meeting. You can also share your child’s strengths and preferences in this section. If you share your input, the team can then address your concerns and goals within the IEP.
   • The Parent Input Section is the place for your to express what you see at home, your concerns about your child’s education, future career and/or independent living, and anything else including communication, mobility, or social emotional concerns. It is not a place to complain, but rather a place to share your expertise on your child with the rest of the team.
4. Let the team know if you want to talk about anything you don’t usually talk about.
   • If this is an annual IEP, check the previous IEP. Does it address everything your child needs? Are there areas you are concerned about that are not included such as speech & language, OT, or social emotional support? Let the team know beforehand so they can prepare and invite the right people to the meeting.
   • If this is an initial IEP, the areas of concern should have been addressed at the Domain Meeting. Double check the domain meeting paperwork to make sure every area you are concerned about is addressed.
5. Talk to you child!
   • Kids should be included in their own IEP process. The plan is written for them, so they should have a say in what helps them and what doesn’t. This also helps build self-advocacy. Go through the previous IEP with your child and talk about what was helpful and what was not.
6. Review goals.
   • Look at the previous IEP and review the goals. Do they make sense for your child? Do you have progress monitoring data to determine if your child has made progress towards these goals or even met the goal? If not, ask for the goal data from the special education teacher. You can use the previous goals to help determine if the new goals are appropriate.
7. Ask that a draft of the new IEP be sent to you at least 3 days before the meeting.
   • Read through the entire draft and write down any and all questions you have. IEP meetings can feel like a whirlwind where educational jargon gets thrown at you. It’s easy to get lost and forget the questions you have. By writing them down, you can make sure to stay on track during the meeting, and if you send your questions ahead of time, you might even get them answered before the meeting.
   • Some common questions might be clarifying what acronyms mean, explaining what test scores mean, explaining the goals and how they will be taught and monitored, and asking why there are/are not certain accommodations.
   • If the entire IEP is too overwhelming, start with the 5 IEP Sections to look for.
8. Ask for all the paperwork.
   • The IEP document itself is probably not the only paperwork that will be given at the IEP table. Ask for all the paperwork before hand so you have time to read and review it prior to being asked to sign anything. Additionally, make sure you know which papers need to be signed and what your signature indicates. For example, some district’s IEPs have parents sign the cover page, which only indicates that they attended the meeting, where other district’s IEPs may have the parent sign the IEP indicating they agree with the services. Getting all the paperwork ahead of time allows you to read and review without feeling pressured to sign immediately.
9. Gather any new information or documents you have.
   • Did your child have a new physical? New allergies? Update on private therapies? The IEP meeting is a great time to share any out-of-school updates that relate to your child’s disability. Again, sending this information to the school ahead of time allows them to incorporate the information into the new IEP. Then, the IEP meeting can be more of a discussion rather than a mad dash to get all the information written down.
10. Get an agenda.
    • IEP meetings can be long and there are many different sections to review, and potentially many different teachers and related service providers. Ask for an agenda with the sections that will be covered, who will be leading the discussion of that section, and a time estimate for each section. That way, it is easier for everyone to stay on track, and you can follow along. It also allows you to plan as much time for the meeting that you need without feeling rushed.

What else do you do to prepare for IEP meetings? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

If you want personalized support preparing for the IEP meeting or to have someone review your child’s draft IEP, reach out to me!