Updated: Dec 12, 2023
IEP meetings are usually held once a year. You can amend an IEP at anytime to address new concerns/conflicts, add or remove services and request new evals, or review data, etc etc. Every 3 years the team is required to do re-evaluations for each service provided. IEPs are renewed annually, and the new evaluations are done once every three years. An IEP is considered a fluid document and should be updated as needed throughout the year based on your students needs.
You can do a local Google search to find out if your state is a two party state or does indeed allow you to record these meetings for your own personal notes. You must tell your team you are recording.
Parents can write their own evaluations! Parents/guardians are part of the team and should act as such. We can share a perspective that the school doesn’t see. Your knowledge is valuable – you know your student best. Be an active listener during your meeting and stay focused.
You can ask (well in advance) to have a copy of each evaluation of the services provided prior to the IEP meeting. And you can also ask for the draft for the IEP to review before the meeting. This helps to be as prepared as the other team members in attendance if you can review the documents prior to the meeting.
If the team asks for your signature on the IEP but you don’t feel comfortable with the services offered/lack of services offered, you do NOT need to sign anything during that first initial meeting, aside from the attendance signature page. The team may say something similar to, “Well, Mrs/Mr Foxy, our meeting time has come to an end. We need to close this meeting with your signature” You will simply reply with, “no, thank you” if you don’t agree and ask for what it is you’d like added or removed from the IEP. Once you are satisfied with the document then you’ll sign the IEP during the second or third meeting depending on the revisions made. Do not feel forced to sign unless you are comfortable doing so. And if you do sign the document but you realize after the fact that you weren’t really ready to – it’s always OK to contact your team and let them know you would like to amend the current IEP. You can request an amendment as many times as you would like until you are completely satisfied.
An IEE request can be made during your child’s meeting if you disagree with a school evaluation. You have a right to request an IEE under the (IDEA). And it’s not just an IEE you have a right to — it’s one at public expense. In IEE is an independent educational evaluation.
As a parent/guardian, you always have the right to a private evaluation(s). Families do often pay for this on their own. But sometimes, your school may agree or may even be forced to pay for it under certain circumstances. When this happens, it’s called an independent educational evaluation at public expense. Schools can’t use only one test to measure your childs abilities, a variety of factors must be taken into account especially if they do discover a learning challenge. A full assessment or eval must include a variety of evals and data, especially in the areas where you or your child’s teachers have identified concerns.
Get everything in writing. One of the biggest rules about IEP’s is that we don’t talk about them, we write about them. If it’s not in writing, unfortunately it never happened. This means if you have a phone call or a quick one on one with the teacher during drop off or pick up, you should always summarize that conversation with an email. Write up a quick and complete email immediately recounting your conversations, therefore you have proof in writing. Emails are key communication!!
Treats/candy and snacks, as well as thank you notes- handwritten with art from the student is always a lovely personal touch and helps our team feel valued, appreciated. Plus, you could be making someone’s day. Kindness can go a long way in these meetings.