An Individualized Education Program is the primary plan for providing special education and related services to an eligible child in U.S. public schools. Parents are members of the IEP team. The strongest meetings start with the child’s strengths, current functioning, and a small number of meaningful priorities.
Prepare a one-page parent summary
- Strengths, interests, and what motivates your child
- What your child can do independently
- Communication, sensory, mobility, health, or safety needs
- One to three priorities for the coming term
- Strategies that help and situations that create barriers
Ask for understandable information
Request copies of evaluations or drafts when local procedures allow, and write down unfamiliar terms. IDEA regulations require meaningful parent participation; families who need language access should ask the school about interpretation and translated communication.
Turn broad hopes into observable goals
Instead of ‘improve social skills,’ describe the setting, skill, support, and way progress will be measured. Ask how each goal connects to classroom access, relationships, communication, independence, or safety.
Questions to ask in the meeting
- How does this goal support participation in school?
- Who will provide each service, how often, and where?
- How will progress be measured and reported?
- What is the plan when support is not working?
- How are my child’s preferences and communication included?
Frequently asked question
Are parents members of the IEP team?
Yes. Under IDEA, parents are members of the team that develops, reviews, and revises an eligible child’s IEP.