From Overwhelmed to Confident: How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting

An IEP meeting is a legal process that involves parents, the school team (at least the case manager and general education teacher), and a representative from the district to develop or review an Individualized Education Plan for a child with a disability. The purpose of the IEP meeting is to identify the child's unique needs and goals, assess the educational program, and determine how to support the child's academic and functional success.

IEP meetings should be held at least annually, but can be as frequently as needed. Additional meetings may be requested by either the parent or the school team to address any new concerns or changes in the child's needs.

Before an IEP meeting, parents should gather essential documents that will help inform the meeting's discussion. These documents include previous IEPs and progress reports, medical and evaluative information, emails from teachers or communication from the school, letters from doctors or therapists, and parent observations and concerns. By reviewing previous IEPs and progress reports, parents can access information on their child's academic goals, progress, and any modifications or accommodations that were previously implemented. School/teacher communication can shed light on behaviors or struggles and will hold a lot of weight at the IEP meeting because it is behavior at school. Parent observations and concerns can help identify areas of need that may not have been addressed in previous IEPs or evaluations. I always recommend that parents create "THE LIST." This is a list of concerns they have for their child: academics (don't forget writing), behavioral, social, emotional, etc. Make sure each of the areas of concern is not only noted in the Parent Concerns section of the IEP, but also addressed one by one during the meeting. If something is not addressed, pause the conversation and ask to have it addressed. If you are running out of time, ask to reconvene.

I highly recommend asking for a draft copy of the IEP from the school. At the very LEAST this draft should cover the present levels of your child, it is good to review this section with a find tooth comb, this will give you some insight into what the school team is thinking. Most schools will also provide proposed goals and accommodations in the draft. This inclusion will also allow you to go over "the list" before even walking into the room and write down your thoughts and suggestions for improvement.

During an IEP meeting, parents should express their child’s unique strengths and needs, share their vision with the team, and utilize clear, jargon-free language. Parents should also be active listeners and responders, clarifying any uncertainties and acknowledging the school team’s input.

Collaboration is key in ensuring the success of a child's IEP. To foster positive relationships, parents should take an active role in developing trust and open communication with the IEP team. Understanding the various roles of different IEP team members will help parents navigate the process and build mutual respect and knowledge.

There are many resources available to parents who want to further educate themselves on the IEP process. Advocacy groups and networks, training and workshops, and online resources and guides can be helpful tools. Understood.org and Wrightslaw.com are great options for researching IEP guidelines and issues. Parents can also seek out an advocate to accompany them during the meeting and provide additional support. (I know a fabulous advocate if you are looking).

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