
Set Up an IEP Meeting for Success!
You are at the head of that long, oak table in the conference room. Among the participants, the principal, a general education teacher, and two concerned parents. The table is strewn about with stacks of papers, pens, data, and a copy of “Whose IDEA is This?”. As you trace your eyes over the title, you think to yourself, yeah, whose idea was this anyways?
I have participated in over 600 IEP meetings. Let’s address the elephant in the room: IEP meetings can be awkward. They can be stuffy, tense, and exhausting.
A parent once told me they would rather have a root canal than be there for the IEP meeting. A ROOT CANAL!
It doesn’t have to be this way, follow this plan to organize an enjoyable meeting:
Reframe Your Mind
Prep:
Why?
Being amply prepared yields trust. Parents are putting their child’s education in your hands. Prove you are responsible enough to take care of it.
Ask Good Questions
When it is time to pick up the phone to schedule the meeting you will also want to present your loose plan and ask a couple of really good questions. The two questions I like to ask are:
What do you think is going well this school year (or if it is an IEP at the beginning of the year– what went well last school year?
What are some of your concerns this school year?
This is the crucial part– actively listen. Don’t interject your wisdom. We are therapists– it is our nature to want to save the world with our therapy brains! Wait. You will have your time. The floor belongs to your parents in this step.
Why?
What it looks like:
Hi _____,This is Matt, the SLP from <school district>. It is that time of the year again when we sit down to schedule <students> IEP. Would <day, date, time> work for a meeting?
I also wanted to talk to you about progress and goals. I met with his teachers and have reviewed everything going on with his therapy. I am thinking X, Y, and Z based on this information. But, before I put that in the IEP, I wanted to get some feedback from you first. What do you think is going well this year? ….. (Listen)… What are some concerns you have?….(listen)…
I appreciate you taking the time to help me to understand some of the things you are seeing on your end. This information will really help me formulate a solid plan for <student>. Would it be okay to send the draft on <date> via email?
The Teacher Chat
Why?
What it looks like:
Hi ____,
I just got off the phone with Mrs. ____. I told her everything we discussed and she told me about X, Y, Z. Based on what we had in mind and what she is thinking, I think we can make Q, R, S, work and that it would be a solid plan for ______. What do you think?
The Draft
*if you have the security capabilities within your email to do so. Otherwise, sending home in sealed folder with an email to the parent to be on the lookout works great.
What it looks like:
Dear _____, Attached is the IEP draft for our meeting on day, month time at location. I am hoping it reflects our discussions and the discussions that I had with the educational team here at school. If you should have any questions before the meeting, please reach out. Otherwise, I will see you on Day, at time.
Tie a Ribbon on it!
I’d love to hear from you!
Parents, what do you appreciate about your educational team when they are preparing an IEP for your child?
Therapists, what are some of the helpful things you do when preparing an IEP meeting?
Administrators, are there any policies that your school district has put in place that help make IEP meetings run smoothly?