10 Tips For A Successful IEP Meeting
Preparing for an upcoming IEP meeting can be very stressful & time consuming. Below are 10 tips to help keep you focused, streamline your preparation, and allow for you to have meaningful parent participation in the meeting.
- First and foremost know what you want for your child. Become an expert on your child’s educational performance and needs.
- Plan & Prepare-Review your child’s most current IEP, Full Individual Evaluation (FIE), progress reports on goals & objectives, and any other data such as results on state assessments.
- Prepare a vision statement for your child to read at the meeting. A vision statement is a prepared statement that highlights what you hope your child will be doing in the next 1 to 5 years. Also include short & long term goals, strengths, interests, and concerns. A vision statement helps to focus your child’s IEP on results.
- Prioritize your child’s needs. Keep the focus on the child’s needs & not the district’s resources or your expectations. Do not blame or criticize.
- Identify problems & propose solutions.
- Emphasize your shared responsibility with educators.
- Protect the parent-school relationship.
- Be polite but firm. Keep your emotions in check.
- Prepare your questions & recommendations.
- Be prepared to listen actively. Understand the school’s position.
