Preparing for an IEP Meeting

Not every child learns at the same pace or the same way. Some children learn with ease; others learn slowly or with difficulty.  Federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), however, gives rights to children who have difficulty learning or need special services, and the IDEA dictates that, among other requirements, schools and parents must plan and provide for those needs by developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  The school then must implement the IEP for the child’s benefit.

An IEP is a plan written by parents, teachers, principals, experts, and others to map out a child’s academic goals and growth and state what services the child will need and receive.  An IPE meeting is conducted annually to review, update, and/or revise the IEP. Parents should not go to the meeting unless they are well-prepared; unpreparedness likely may mean that the child will not receive the help and services he or she needs in order to learn.

In order to be well prepared for an IEP meeting, parents should gather and review the child’s records, including their child’s previous and current IEPs, determine if the school actually lived up to the current or past IEPs, receive and study up-to-date progress reports from teachers throughout the school year, and have on hand current medical documents (especially independent medical records and results as it is always beneficial to have a third party not associated with the school take a look at their child). Parents also should discuss their child’s needs with knowledgeable individuals who are not associated with the school or school system, determine what specific services the child needs (such as an educational assistant for their child if that is required), prepare questions, write out suggestions, and prepare to be their child’s voice and advocate.  The child’s academic progress and academic improvement are at stake.  Other IEP team members will have their own opinions, and the school’s suggestions as to the plan for their child may not be the best or most appropriate.

It is also prudent and wise for parents to pay attention to the reports during the year from teachers, to keep those reports, and to review them before the meeting.  When teachers and school officials prepare for an IEP meeting, the school system generally has a plan or set of plans in place for all students needing IEPs, but again individual parents’ children may need other services or services that the school would rather steer parents away from.  Before the IEP meeting, parents should meet and connect with at least one IEP team member, ask who will attend and what their role will be, and ask in writing if the IEP members, in part or whole, have met or discussed the IEP meeting when they (the parents) were not present.  Parents also should get plenty of sleep the night before the meeting as being rested will help them concentrate and focus at the meeting.

Typically, parents are outnumbered at the IEP meeting by school officials.  Nevertheless, they should not be intimidated; they know their child better than anyone else.

Parents must know what services their child needs before the IEP meeting, and they must let the IEP team members know.  Parents also must speak up at the meeting and should practice before going to the meeting.

Even if you are prepared for the meeting, you should not necessarily attend it alone.  Consider bringing an ally, a lawyer, to the meeting.  Ask the lawyer to help you prepare.

If you feel your child’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are being ignored, incorrectly applied, or violated, there are legal remedies available. If you have questions about IEPs or about your or your child’s rights, talk to a lawyer. For more information, contact Nashville Education Attorney Perry A. Craft.