You’ve worked hard to help your child excel. You talked to their teachers and their doctor. You requested an evaluation. After the evaluation, you were invited to a meeting to determine if your child qualifies for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You were feeling excited, but after the letter, the acronyms and legal terms left you feeling a little uneasy.
It’s normal to be nervous, especially if you’ve never been to an IEP meeting before. Rest assured, the process is usually quite straightforward. But like any other meeting, taking the proper steps beforehand will ensure the best outcome.
This article explains the importance of the first IEP meeting. It also outlines the steps parents should take to prepare for the first IEP meeting. Finally, it explains how a New York City therapeutic school can help.
A Brief Review of the IEP Process
Before discussing how to prepare for the first IEP meeting, it helps to understand why the meeting is so important. So, let’s briefly review how the meeting fits into the IEP process.
The NYC IEP process begins when a parent, teacher, or other authorized person submits a written referral to the appropriate person requesting an evaluation. Then, the district will send you a “Notice of Referral Letter,” which, in addition to explaining several rights, will ask you to meet with a school social worker to discuss your child’s history.
After the Notice, you’ll be asked to sign a “Consent for Initial Evaluation.” You must sign it for the evaluation to take place. In NYC, the district has 60 days from the date of consent to complete the evaluation. During the evaluation process, your child will take several tests to evaluate their academic, emotional, and social skills.
After the evaluation, the IEP team will schedule a meeting. By law, you are part of the IEP team. As such, you have the right to attend and give input.
During the meeting, the team will review the evaluation results and decide whether your child has a qualifying disability under the IDEA.
- If the team agrees that your child has a qualifying disability, they will create an IEP. The IEP will specify which modifications your child needs and how they should be delivered. The IEP also states how the team will judge progress. Once the plan is approved, you will have to sign a second consent to allow services to begin. The IEP will be reevaluated on a regular basis.
- If the team does not find that there is a qualifying disability, you’ll get a Notice of Denial. You’ll also have the right to challenge the decision.
Things Parents Should Do Before Their Child’s First IEP Meeting
As the prior section shows, the IEP meeting carries considerable weight in the decision to give a child IDEA services. As such, parents and other caregivers should prepare. Here are eight things that parents should do before the first meeting.
- Make your own list.
Make notes about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Note what you see at home during homework sessions and other relevant times. This will give the team a more complete picture of your child.
- Read the evaluations.
The evaluations are crucial to the IEP, so read them before the meeting. Make note of any findings you agree with or dispute. Many parents complain that schools don’t make the evaluations available far enough in advance of the meeting, so request your own copies directly from the evaluators.
- Collect documents.
Gather your child’s report cards, medical records, tutoring progress reports, prior evaluations, letters from teachers, coaches, and counselors, and anything else that might be relevant. Put them into a binder so you can easily find them during the meeting.
- Research your requests.
The team will likely ask you which accommodations and modifications you’d like for your child. You might not know where to start, but a quick online search will help you find possible IEP accommodations and modifications. You should also look for accommodations that directly relate to your child’s disability. For example, several websites list possible accommodations for children with dyslexia.
- Look up the law.
No one expects you to sound like you graduated from law school. However, you should try to familiarize yourself with the basics of IEP law so you can know and protect your rights. Many federal and state agencies, as well as reputable educational nonprofits, have helpful IEP guides for parents. At a minimum, learn two things. First, research your rights as a parent. Second, study the IDEA’s different qualifying categories of disability and which one is most likely to fit your child’s needs.
- Talk to other parents.
If you know a parent who’s recently gone through the IEP process, offer to take them to coffee so you can ask them about their experience.
- Write down your questions.
If you have questions during your research, write them down. You have the right to ask questions during the meeting.
- Bring a pen and paper.
Issues or questions may come up during the meeting. Bring your own paper and pen to the meeting so you can keep track of them.
Therapeutic Schools and the IEP Process
After a successful IEP meeting, you should take great pride in knowing that you’ve taken a major step toward getting your child the education that they deserve. However, as any parent will tell you, getting an IEP is just the beginning. You’ll need to ensure the school follows the IEP to the letter. Unfortunately, even when they are happy with the IEP itself, many parents become frustrated with how the IEP is implemented. While all teachers and schools are trying to do their best, with high student-teacher and student-counselor ratios, most traditional public schools simply don’t have the bandwidth to fully modify their educational approach to help one student. It’s not their fault; traditional schools weren’t designed with accommodations in mind.
Therapeutic schools offer another approach. These schools have smaller class sizes and larger counseling staffs. This combination allows teachers and counselors to provide each student with the academic and emotional instruction they need.
If your child has an IEP and you’re wondering if another school setting might be a good next step, consider Academics West. Our school combines academics and social-emotional learning principles to create an environment that educates the whole child. Take our virtual tour to learn more. Then call 212-580-0080 to schedule a meeting with one of the admissions counselors at our Upper West Side campus.
