There are times when parents must call an Emergency IEP meeting. Many involve their child’s safety or behavior concerns. This can include a child eloping (leaving the classroom), unexpectedly leaving their school campus, running into traffic, coming home obviously injured or unusually upset, or providing some other clear indication that they are not safe at school. Sometimes our children can tell us what happened and other times they cannot. Either way, if you are concerned for your child’s safety, call an emergency IEP meeting by emailing your child’s case manager and at least one other person at the school, asking for an IEP and indicating why it is an emergency.
Some schools play “hardball” and take their time scheduling even an emergency IEP meeting. In that case, keep following up, and politely but persistently documenting your concerns. Written communication is essential here: if an agreement or any communication is not in writing, it never happened.
There are no federal or state rules requiring shorter timelines for an emergency IEP. The district is always required to hold an IEP team meeting within 30 days of parent request. That is 30 calendar days, NOT 30 school days. Those 30 days also include the many weeks where districts take off a week in the fall, February, April, etc. Any school break of a week or less counts towards the 30 days.
What can happen during an emergency IEP meeting?
Once you have the team assembled, then you can share your concerns again, ask questions, and ask for the additional supports your child needs. Sometimes the team has credible explanations for what is happening. Other times, it is evident to all that your child does not have what they need. Often districts will try to tell you that you must wait 60 days for them to assess what your student needs. In some cases, this is true, and in others it absolutely is not. When you want someone who knows all the options the school has and how to best press them for those options, invite Aspire Advocacy to attend with you.
For help at your child’s next IEP meeting, more information about our special education advocacy services, or for a FREE 20-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit for you, call or email today!
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.