Parent Guide
A short, plain-language refresher you can skim the night before the meeting.
You are an equal member of the team
- Under IDEA, parents are full members of the IEP team — your input belongs in the document.
- You can request a meeting in writing at any time; you don't have to wait for the annual review.
- You may bring anyone who knows your child: a partner, friend, therapist, or advocate.
Before the meeting
- Ask for draft goals and any evaluation reports at least a few days ahead.
- Write down 3–5 priorities so the conversation stays on what matters most to your child.
- Bring work samples, notes from home, and outside evaluations or medical reports.
Questions worth asking
- How will progress on each goal be measured, and how often will I hear about it?
- What does this accommodation look like on a normal Tuesday in class?
- Who is responsible for teaching this skill, and how many minutes per week?
- What data led to this recommendation — may I have a copy?
After the meeting
- Ask for a copy of the finalized IEP and read it before signing.
- You can agree to part of an IEP and note disagreement with the rest in writing.
- Keep everything — emails, reports, progress notes — in one binder, dated.