Tips, checklists, & parent stories to help you feel confident for your child’s next IEP meeting!
IEPs help hold schools accountable for protecting our kids’ rights to a free, appropriate public education. Your child’s IEP will contain all their goals, accommodations, and services for the school year. It’s understandable to feel intimidated by one (or more!) three-hour meetings where you may be surrounded by twenty people dissecting details about your child in a language that doesn’t always feel like your own. Remember: they may be experts in education, but YOU are the expert on your child. So let’s work on getting you more comfortable, organized — and dare we say, confident — for your child’s next IEP.
- Use this free, printable IEP prep checklist to help you stay organized in the weeks and days leading up to the meeting: IEP Prep Checklist (Undivided members can access our IEP prep guide in the Undivided app with links, templates, and easy-to-follow instructions that walk parents through the process one step at a time.)
- Before the meeting, make sure to gather all the documents you need. Read our article The Paper Chase…Gone Digital for a checklist of common documents you should gather, plus tips on how to organize like a pro.
- Be sure to read our IEP Meeting Tips for Parents for concrete ways to overcome intimidation you may feel about meeting with your child’s teacher, school administration, and other professionals. Plus, learn about recording the meeting and other rights you have as a parent.
- Use this free template to detail your concerns and proposed solutions, so you can stay organized and focused during the big meeting. Keep track of what was agreed upon, when the team will start working on it, and who is responsible: List of Concerns for IEP Meeting
- See 3 Tips for Parents Jumping into the IEP Process to hear from Undivided Navigators and parents about tackling the IEP process (especially if it’s new to you), including making space for new emotions and advocating for what matters to you.
Whether you’re preparing for your child’s first IEP, creating a vision statement for your teen, or brushing up on your parental rights, you’re likely facing a long IEP prep to-do list! For additional support and advice, be sure to attend our upcoming free IEP prep event!
The Ultimate Checklist for IEP Prep with Education Advocate Lisa Carey
IEP prep can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to the whole process (or even if you’re a seasoned vet), but you don’t have to do it alone! Undivided is hosting a live event Tuesday, March 28, at 1:00 p.m. PST with Education Advocate Lisa Carey. Lisa will be talking about the ins and outs of making sure you’re organized and prepared for your upcoming annual or triennial IEP. We look forward to seeing you! RSVP here.
This newsletter was originally sent to our subscribers on 3/16/23. Subscribe to our newsletter to get more resources like this in your inbox, or check out our full library of articles, templates, and videos at undivided.io/resources.
