What to Expect at your child’s IEP Meeting…
Nervous about going into your child’s IEP meeting? Not sure what to expect? Whether it is your first time, or if you have been doing this for years, IEP meetings can be completely overwhelming! Let’s take some of the guesswork out of it by giving you a roadmap of what to expect!
Before the meeting: The school team should send you a formal invitation that includes a list of who is invited to the meeting at least 10 calendar days before the meeting date. If you think someone is missing from the list or if you would like to invite someone else (a partner, a family member, your child’s therapist, etc.) please do not hesitate to reach out to the school. The best meeting results come from a team approach and the more people at the table who know your child the better!
Most IEP meetings begin with you, the parent! And we know how scary this can be. If you know this though, you can be prepared with your concerns and questions ahead of time. The school team will likely ask you what your questions and concerns are to start the meeting. You can be ready for this by bringing with you some notes you’ve prepared OR sending along your questions/concerns in an email ahead of time. It can also be helpful for you to have copies of your child’s report cards and progress reports to refer to as well.
The next part of the meeting is typically a progress update (if it is an Annual Review meeting) or an overview of Evaluation results (for an Initial or Reevaluation meeting). In either case, this is where your child’s teacher(s) and specialists update you on progress. If you have specific questions for specific specialists or teachers, share these at the beginning so that they can make sure they answer your question during this part of the meeting!
In an Initial or Reevaluation Eligibility meeting, the team then determines if your child is eligible or still eligible for Special Education. See our forthcoming post on Eligibility coming soon for more details about this!
Finally, the team works together to update and/or write the IEP. Things that should be discussed at this time are goal areas, direct services, consultation services, accommodations, transportation, Extended School Year services, and Transition Planning. This part can be overwhelming. Do not worry if you do not get everything in the moment!
And remember! If you walk away from the meeting feeling like something was missed, or you forgot to ask a question, you can always follow up with the school liaison after the meeting. You should expect the proposed IEP within 10 school days from the meeting to review. If you have requested translated documents, you might get the English copy first. If you do not receive your translated document in a timely fashion, be sure to reach out to the team chairperson, liaison, or school administrator. You can also wait for the draft of the IEP to make sure everything is included that was discussed. You have 30 calendar days to review the draft of the IEP before having to make a decision to accept it or not.
