Once your child is determined eligible for academic services, the school will schedule a preliminary meeting to establish the specific goals, accommodations, and related services that will be part of your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Recurring and annual IEP meetings will measure student growth and update goals, accommodations, and services as needed. Attending these meetings empowers parents to shape their child’s education program, but navigating legal rights, terminology, and an abundance of paperwork can be overwhelming.
“Parent advocacy is the key to unlocking a child’s full potential. By being informed, involved, and proactive, parents can help ensure their child receives the support and services they need to thrive in the California public school system.”
-Jennifer Chang, education rights attorney
California special education attorney Jennifer Chang works closely with parents of children with disabilities to ensure their rights are protected throughout the IEP process and beyond. She emphasizes the importance of parent advocacy in ensuring their child’s needs are met and collaborating effectively with educators. Parental involvement in IEP meetings enables parents to gain insight into their child’s education plan, ask questions, and express any concerns.
Here are five tips to help you make your next IEP meeting less stressful and more successful, leaving you with the results your child needs to achieve their academic goals.
1. Be Prepared to Speak Up
As a parent, your voice can be a powerful tool in advocating for your child’s educational needs. To ensure your voice is heard, come prepared with questions, comments, and concerns to help you articulate your thoughts and share insights about your child’s strengths and challenges.
Informative questions you might consider asking include:
- What are the specific goals and objectives for my child’s IEP?
- How will progress be measured and reported?
- What accommodations and modifications will be made to support my child’s learning?
- How can we work together to address any challenges or concerns?
2. Clarify for Understanding
At an IEP meeting, teachers and administrators will use acronyms and terminology you may have never heard before. IDEA, LRE, and ESY are commonly used special education acronyms that pertain to your child’s rights and services. Legal paperwork and documentation may also contain unfamiliar language. It is essential to address any unknown or confusing technical terms and ask clarifying questions to help you better understand what supports, services, and accommodations the school will provide for your child and the best ways to advocate for their success.
The Law Offices of Jennifer Chang has compiled a list of common terms and acronyms in special education to help parents and guardians feel more comfortable navigating conversations related to their child’s services.
3. Keep Your Own Records
Your child’s school will measure academic growth based on in-school reports, assessments, evaluations, and observations. As a parent, you have a different perspective of your child and their learning, which is equally valuable to providing input about their growth. Maintaining your own records, which include their creative and academic work, previous IEPs, written notices, and progress reports, will allow you to track progress independently and provide additional insight to the IEP team. For children who struggle with life or motor skills, tracking milestones and progress at home is another way to demonstrate growth outside the classroom.
Not only do additional records help you stay up to date with your child’s education plan, but they also allow you to access important legal documentation that can help you advocate for your child’s rights if needed. As a parent, you are legally entitled to request and access any school documentation related to your child. Copies of your child’s school records can be made available to parents and guardians within five business days of a written request. Additionally, parents of students with disabilities can request a Records Review at any given time by contacting the school.
4. Bring a Support Person
Bringing a support person, such as a family member, advocate, or lawyer, to an IEP meeting can help you navigate the challenges of the meeting, provide additional perspective, and advocate for your child’s rights.
Not every IEP meeting will require the support of an education rights attorney, but there are some specific situations in which legal advocacy is beneficial:
- When the parent disagrees with the school’s developed IEP
- When the parent believes the school is not providing the services their child requires
- Disciplinary action is being taken against a student with disabilities
- Dismissal of services meeting
5. Your Perspective Matters
As a parent, you are an expert on your child. While your child’s teacher and school understand academic development, you add a unique perspective on their strengths, challenges, and needs outside the classroom. You should feel comfortable sharing your personal experiences, knowledge, and concerns with your child’s IEP team to ensure all their needs are met.
Choosing an Education Rights Attorney You Can Trust
Understanding and navigating IEP meetings is a crucial part of supporting your child’s education. By being prepared, informed, and proactive, you can effectively advocate for your child’s rights and work collaboratively with educators to create an IEP that promotes their growth. Leaning on the support of an education rights attorney can help you gain crucial awareness surrounding education law and how it applies to your child and the advocacy you may need to promote those rights.
Jennifer Chang tirelessly advocates for children with disabilities and their families in California public schools. Contact her offices today to schedule a consultation.