When I started my special education journey with my son, I thought that having an annual IEP meeting was all it took to create a good document. I quickly realized that that was not the case. I learned that an IEP document is very fluid and requires constant review, updates, and change.
A parent or a district can request an IEP meeting at any time, for any reason. If the meeting is requested by the parent, the district will often ask why. Simply responding that you want to review the document or chat with the entire team is enough. After your initial request, the district has 30 days to hold the meeting.
During an IEP meeting, it’s common for issues to arise that were not previously known. A teacher might acknowledge a recent challenge in an area that wasn’t thought to be a problem, or a service provider might be able to provide new insight. In order to be most effective, the IEP team needs to have continuing conversation and collaboration.
Because administering an IEP is time consuming, sometimes school staff will try to convince a parent that having multiple meetings or having the whole team present is unnecessary. There are times when this is true. However, if your child is struggling in one area, that struggle is often evident in other areas. As the parent, only you are the expert on your child and you know when something is not right. It’s important to call a meeting so that the entire team can hear about the strategies being discussed and agreed to—and then implemented. When everyone hears the same thing at the same time, it is much more likely that the IEP will be followed with fidelity.
Having an IEP meeting at least quarterly is vital. This frequency means that you and the rest of the team can continue working collaboratively and stay aware of what is actually taking place, what may need to change, and if your child’s needs are being appropriately supported.
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