Parents often wonder how to start the process of requesting an emergency IEP meeting. We at Aspire Advocacy hear stories of parents talking to teachers or other school staff about urgent concerns they have, and then nothing happens. Parents wonder where they are in the process and why the school district is not addressing their serious concerns.
There are some steps parents need to take to have requesting an emergency IEP meeting taken seriously.
First: speak to anyone you like. You may get valuable information you otherwise would not know, and get free guidance.
Second, always put requests for all IEP meetings in writing. Email is ideal for this as you have a date and time stamp.
Third, write “requesting an emergency IEP meeting” in the email’s subject line. This way the school knows it is a concern beyond what they would get in a typical email from you.
Fourth, start the email by saying (in brief) that you are requesting an emergency IEP meeting for your child “Junie Perton.” It helps the district act more quickly when they know immediately who the student is that they will be meeting to help.
Fifth, state why. You do not want to get into a long, detailed blow by blow of events. Give the recipient enough information to convey your concerns and why they require an IEP. Keep it as brief as you can while still conveying enough information that the team will understand this is an emergency and you need help now. Multiple paragraphs – unless absolutely crucial – can sometimes interfere with the recipients being able to quickly process and act upon your request.
Sixth – email at least two people at the district. Your child’s case manager, their general education teacher, the principal are all possible options. We like to send to at least 2 people at the district in case one of the recipients forgets to check their email or inadvertently overlooks a request.
As with everything else in special education, it can take time. Districts still have 30 days to schedule the IEP meeting. In this case, trained advocates like those at Aspire Advocacy can typically help bypass the delays and get that meeting scheduled more quickly.
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.