Preparing for your child's IEP Meeting

 

As parents of students with IEP’s, you know that being prepared to speak for your child regarding their education needs and services is an important task.  Your child’s IEP meeting is an important and crucial time where you get to speak with their educators and administrators about the progress they are making towards their goals.  It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the information presented, whether it’s your first IEP or tenth IEP meeting.  However, there are things you can do, and items you can bring to the meeting to make it as productive as possible.  Kristin Stanberry at www.understood.com gives several suggestions to help parents be ready to discuss their child’s education at their IEP meeting.

 First would be any notes, lists, and/or suggestions.  These could be things regarding your child’s strengths or weaknesses; how they feel about school; what they enjoy engaging in outside the classroom; or what you are doing at home that is working or not working.

 Second would be any documents or reports that you would like to discuss.  These may include the most recent IEP held; any report cards; progress reports received; and any evaluation reports from therapists – whether private or school-based.

 Lastly, if there any other items you feel would be important: A notebook for taking notes; or a notebook for keeping your child’s documents from the meeting.

 Of course, there may be things that are not in these lists that you may bring, just as there may be things on these lists that are not necessary in your case.  You can see a full list of the recommended items at: What to Bring to an IEP Meeting[1]

 Being prepared will help you have a successful and productive IEP meeting with the school administration.  It will also help reduce the stress and make sure you address all the areas that you want covered at the meeting.  Here’s to a great IEP meeting!

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