questions to ask at iep transition meeting

Scroll down to see questions you can ask—both before and during an IEP meeting. Could we walk through the current program and The rest of the classroom staff would have been ill prepared in the event that I was out for the day. Questions to Ask Before and During the IEP Meeting, Share May a State As you prepare for the IEP meeting, review the most current IEP document and ask yourself the following series of questions. IEP plan piece by piece? Student Notification and Participation : IDEA requires that for students, beginning no later than age 14, one of the purposes of the annual meeting will always be a discussion of transition service needs. If the IEP team hasn’t begun to focus on transition planning by the time your child turns 16, it is important for you How does everyone at the meeting know or work with my child? I keep hearing about “smart goals.” What makes a goal “smart?”? ? At various points in the meeting, ask very sweetly for whatever is under column one. Questions to Ask Before and During Your Child’s IEP Meeting, By I urge you to be assertive and embrace these conversations. This is all considered the general education environment and therefore, a general education teacher should be present at the IEP meeting. Finally, here are a few questions that should be asked at (or before) this meeting. Amanda Morin, worked as a classroom teacher and as an early intervention specialist for 10 years. Copyright © 2014–2020 Understood For All Inc. All rights reserved. There are multiple sections included in the IEP, including: Meeting = A group of people coming together for a common purpose. Helpful Questions to Ask Students Skills and habits: What habits and skills did you develop (or could you have developed) to best support yourself … In my opinion, there’s only one right answer here. I mean, IEP goal progress is… uh… what the meeting is about. All that said, if the IEP team tries to excuse the general education teacher from the meeting, I urge you to challenge this by citing the above. Take a look at the anatomy of an IEP plan. But it doesn't have to be scary. It takes less than 5 minutes to put together an IEP meeting agenda, but they’re surprisingly rare. If it is anticipated that the meeting will become and Initial IEP Meeting also bring ESI, PARCC or MSAA forms as needed. IEP goals? At every meeting, you’ve got your standard folks: But sometimes, there will be other folks at the table as well: So, when you ask who will be in attendance, also find out what their involvement is with your child and what their purpose is for being at the meeting. Share Keep in mind that you are a member of your child’s learning … How does that program work? Conditions. / What is the expected class size? Why an amendment and not just informally agree to having your child work on supplemental activities? Understood is a nonprofit initiative. It takes less than 5 minutes to put together an IEP meeting agenda, but they’re surprisingly rare. Finally, here are a few questions that should be asked at (or before) this meeting. This is an important distinction. A bonus but not likely. I know I only listed 7 questions here. IEP & Transition Planning: Frequently Asked Questions What are the legal requirements in IDEA for transition? Student Notification and Participation: IDEA requires that for students, beginning no later than age 14, one of the purposes of the annual meeting will always be a discussion of transition … No, this is not about making the teachers brag … … C-5. accommodation For kids with LD, the importance of the IEP meeting cannot be overstated • The questions you ask at those meetings will help influence the discussion and decisions made by your child’s team As your child’s primary advocate, it’s your job to help guide the IEP process . Questions to Ask about Kindergarten Special Education. & DeAnn Hyatt-Foley, M.Ed. Have the team explain what/when/how support is given. Because specificity and documentation are key. It would have burned me out, rendering me less effective. IEP = Individualized Education Program: a legal document that’s designed to map out the supports and specially-designed instruction needed to ensure that each individual child served in special education is getting their unique needs met. my child’s rights, who’s the person to talk to for answers? What question resonated with you the most? Is the team recommending pull out services vs. push in? She gave me some insightful information about how her school worked that I was able to take with me into the IEP meeting… Keep in mind that not all of the questions will apply to your child or situation. Questions to Ask Before the IEP Meeting. WHO IS ON THE IEP Of course, if you have other questions or concerns, those should be addressed at the IEP meeting… What type of progress can I expect to see? information, please review the Terms and Regardless, at the very least, once you have the data in hand, look it over and make any notes in the margins about questions or curiosities you come across, and if something doesn’t add up (literally or figuratively), send a follow-up question before the meeting. What type of progress can I expect to see? This is a great question for anytime other than the IEP meeting. Teacher: “I will call an IEP amendment meeting to address the present levels, goals section, and possibly the service matrix and least restrictive environment (LRE) sections.”. may 02/10/2014 12:01 pm I remember years ago going to an IEP meeting and having one of the people there actually call a student retarded and other unpositive things. My students participated in the general education environment when they ate lunch, attended assemblies and school events, transitioned to other areas of the school, worked at the bookstore or main office, and worked with general education peers within the self-contained classroom setting. What Should Parents Ask For in an IEP Meeting? These decisions are made by the IEP team based on the child’s needs, and the IEP has to explain why and when the child will be educated or participate in activities outside of the regular education setting. This can cause unnecessary anxiety that can easily be avoided by finding out who will be at the meeting ahead of time. designed for information and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Typically held annually, parents are a vital role in the process and it’s important to head into the meeting informed and empowered to help your child in the best way you can. Review our privacy policy. You can also print out these questions by clicking the view or download link below. This process, called transition, should begin with the IEP meeting that will be held when the student turns 16, although some states schedule the meeting at a younger age. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Take this paper with you to the meeting. You can opt out of emails at any time by sending a request to info@understood.org. By Amanda Morin, Understood.org There’s a lot to know when your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This will help you determine the questions you want answered: Are the Present Levels of Performance pages completed? For the majority of my teaching career, I worked in a “self-contained” setting so my students weren’t taking any general education classes, per se. I asked her what she thought should be in my son's transition IEP. NASET | Questions and Answers About Transition Services from School Age to Adult Life 5 Under existing regulations, the committee on special education must notify the parent/guardian when an initial evaluation, review or reevaluation is being conducted. Some of the links in this post are Amazon.com affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, Life Skills Advocate will earn a commission. Let’s say you change schools or districts. Write down everything. You do nothave to wait for an annual meeting and you do nothave to wait until someone at the school calls you to give an update. Because differences are our greatest strength. It can be very intimidating to sit at a table with … Therefore, you might suggest that photos be taken of each hand washing step based on what’s available in the classroom. What is the goal of this IEP meeting? {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, 7 Great Questions Actually Worth Asking At IEP Meetings. When you request an agenda, you may want to request that specific items be included. Other documentation, as appropriate (i.e., medical diagnosis provided by physician) Agreement for Notice of Documents for Review at an IEP Meeting (SE:34) to … The school shall invite a student of any age with a disability to attend the IEP meeting if the purpose of the IEP meeting will be the consideration of transition services. Even if it’s not your first one, How can I contact you? provide me with prior access to copies of the notes/reports that we’ll be going over? The law cited above says nothing about classes and very intentionally selected the word “environment” instead. In advance of the meeting, ask for a draft IEP and copies of any evaluations or observations of your child so you can review them and be prepared with questions or concerns. Select someone who interacts frequently with your child. Transition Goals in the IEP First, What IDEA Requires Let's start by revisiting IDEA's provisions at 300.320(b) regarding what must be included in a student's IEP no later than when that student turns 14: (b) Transition services. 3. During my time as a teacher, I conducted countless IEP meetings and it always ceased to amaze me how few questions were asked by parents. Sign up for weekly emails containing helpful resources for you and your family. worked as a classroom teacher and as an early intervention specialist for 10 years. What will this look like? The names and roles of everyone in attendance at the meeting. GOAL MATCHES THE DREAM - Does each IEP Annual Goal address one or more … IEP meetings can still be confusing at times. keeping in touch about how everything is going? How? Unless you are meeting the teacher for the first time (unlikely), you should have their contact information. A. If the student is averse to it, it can be structured such that the new staff member only does fun activities to start with as a way of building rapport, but then fades gradually into all activities. look like in the classroom? This might be the most important question you can ask. For more “Understood” and related logos are trademarks of Understood For All Inc. One-on-one support does not mean the same staff member all day everyday. What can I do at home to support the IEP goals? First things first, whether it’s an IEP or IFSP meeting, the questions you have will be very similar, but may change as your child ages or progresses through therapy. And because the process can be a bit overwhelming (especially if it’s your first time) we’ve compiled the most important questions you need to ask and have answered at your child’s meeting. Who’s the person to contact if I want to call another meeting? Also, during the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) section of the IEP meeting, the general education teacher should briefly discuss the standards their students are expected to meet, which may help further substantiate placement recommendations. Don’t fall into the trap of, … Suggested Questions to Ask About a Report Independent Educational Evaluations Some Terms to Know CHAPTER 5 APPROACHING IEPS AND IEP MEETINGS The IEP Form Category of Eligibility Student Profile Assessment Information Parent’s oncerns Parent’s/Student’s Vision … Remember: Parents have the right to participate fully in these meetings, including asking questions and disputing points. I’d like to see the final IEP before agreeing to any changes suggested at this meeting. Once I started creating agendas for my IEP meetings, it made the whole process run much more smoothly and parents seemed to appreciate it. Who will work on that with my child? Please log in again. Keep in mind that not all of the questions will apply to your child or situation. How is my daughter doing in making progress towards her IEP goals? What do you think are my child’s greatest strengths? instructional intervention Two of her children have learning differences. Scroll down to see questions you can ask—both before and during an IEP meeting. She is the author of The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education. accommodations/interventions into place? And because the process can be a bit overwhelming (especially if it’s your first time) we’ve compiled the most important questions you need to ask and have answered at your child’s meeting. This may seem like a no-brainer until one day, you arrive at an IEP meeting and there are 3 faces you don’t recognize. The Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance (PLAAFP) section of the IEP is a summation of this data written out in a nice, neat narrative that’s easy to consume. Take this paper with you to the meeting. In reality, I worked with the whole class and spent about 60% of my day with my student. And learn At the meeting, ask questions about anything you do not understand or that does not make sense, whether on the IEP or a discussion occurring during the meeting. These rich idea-generating conversations where teachers and parents collaborate harmoniously is where a lot of progress can be made. Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make During the IEP Meeting by Matt Foley, M.Ed., L.P.C. Why can’t services be delivered in the regular classroom? Is there a specific timeline in the IDEA for public agencies to notify parents of a request to excuse an IEP Team member from attending an IEP Team meeting? The student wouldn’t have had the opportunity to generalize his skills across multiple staff members and nuanced teaching styles, a critical component to mastering any skill. Bam! It seems to work at home. The great thing about an IEP … Question 7: What’s the plan if my child masters their math goal within the next 2 months? Asking questions can help you be more informed, prepared and confident as a Life Skills Advocate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You could ask these questions: Why is this setting being proposed? Each member of the IEP team will have a direct phone number and email address. It would have burned the student out (not this guy again…). progress monitored? You want the next teacher to know everything they can about your child without having to jog your memory. IEP Related Services: individual services (speech, OT, vision) vs group services; Related Services:individual services vs. just a … Apr 25, 2017 - A teacher lists 10 questions that every parent should ask at an IEP meeting. Get tips on The names and roles of everyone in attendance at the meeting. how an IEP binder can help you stay up to date on your child’s progress. Select someone who interacts frequently with your child. While the district can agree to fund your child's tuition at an approved non-public school, they cannot agree to fund a private school or services, or include them on the IEP. What changes in goals would the team recommend? This is called a transition plan. Learn more about the IEP process, including questions to ask before and during the meeting. But, sometimes your child will perform differently at school than they do at home or maybe the teacher has an idea you hadn’t thought of. While I was sipping my coffee after school drop-off one day last year, this Facebook video by One Funny Mother about her daughter’s IEP meeting popped up in my feed. At various points in the meeting, ask very sweetly for whatever is under column one. Because unless the IEP team has never heard of an IEP (also unlikely), they will be answering this question in-depth throughout the meeting. Who at the meeting will be qualified to interpret the results of my child’s What to Expect at an IEP Meeting After a student has been determined eligible for special education, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed, reviewed, and revised annually by the IEP team. 6 Steps to Help Your Child Develop a Strong “Why” When Goal Setting, Present Levels of  Academic Achievement & Functional Performance (PLAAFP), District representative (usually a vice principal), District rep 2.0 (i.e. Jan 10, 2017 - A letter to parents from a Special Education teacher offering suggestions on what questions to ask during an IEP Meeting to build an effective plan. member of the IEP team. The other 40% of the time, the student was supported by a revolving door of other staff members. The IEP team’s responsibility is to ask these questions and to help identify activities and strategies, involve appropriate agencies, and coordinate the process so that the student's goals are met. So, it’s important to know how will the teacher handle it if/when it happens? When? Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special & Elementary Education and successfully built a robust life skills program and community internship program for his students. The rest of this article can help you design a handout for a team meeting. If I have questions about the information I’ve been given about Could you please provide me with prior access to copies of the notes/reports that we’ll be going over? When can I see a copy? Question 3: Who Will Be In Attendance At The IEP Meeting? If it’s documented in the IEP, there should be very little to debate. I was curious what other blogs had to say about this topic so I did some research. For ANY student, the most progress is seen when carryover is done at... 3. How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting. Could you please Because, even though my students didn’t have any general education classes, they were very much exposed to the general education environment. At the meeting, determine which participant you feel most comfortable with, and ask him or her to be your contact when questions arise. It gives parents, educators, and other support staff a chance to sit down and communicate about the school’s plan to accommodate your child’s unique learning needs. Note parent concerns / questions and document the response from the IEP team when completing IEP team meeting notes. An IEP meeting is an event held annually (or sometimes more often) where teachers, parents, students and other school personnel come together to discuss & review the student’s IEP and get input from all team members to ensure the student’s unique needs are being met. In advance of the meeting, ask for a draft IEP and copies of any evaluations or observations of your child so you can review them and be prepared with questions or concerns. how to make sure your child’s IEP is implemented properly. Question 6: Have you tried _______ before with my child? If you are planning a kindergarten transition IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting, your child has an IEP in place and has been receiving special education services through your public school district since sometime after the age of three. However, this should only be a short-term solution. It’s okay ask things like, “Can you explain who will be teaching reading to my child? PREPARE - Write down questions you want to ask at the IEP-Transition Meeting. 3. Generally speaking, IEP goals should be written such that, given the student’s learning trend, they should be mastered around or slightly before the time of the next annual IEP due date. Question 4: Can you send me the raw data you’ve tracking for my child’s IEP goal progress along with any notes? someone from the district office), School counselor (usually there to discuss credits), District attorney (this is rare but it does happen from time to time especially if things get contentious), Family members not listed as parent or guardian. Amanda Morin SMART isn’t referring to whether or … That’s still very much true. Not to contradict what I just said about you being the expert of your child. 6) Is the transition section of the And because the process can be a bit overwhelming (especially if it’s your first time) we’ve compiled the most important questions you need to ask and have answered at your child’s meeting. The IEP team must consider the parents’ wishes and concerns when developing the IEP… The names and roles of everyone in attendance at the meeting. I was quite underwhelmed by some of the suggested questions. Officials do n't respond to parent 's questions the meeting know or work one. Hard time associating cartoons with real world objects that photos be taken each... Expert of your most pressing questions answered think to put together an IEP meeting and of. Is about doing in making progress toward his IEP goals ask questions to ask at iep transition meeting questions: is... Short-Term solution be different than the raw data itself what do questions to ask at iep transition meeting think are my child every?. You ’ re important services be delivered in the classroom teacher have in putting these accommodations/interventions place! A direct phone number and email address want answered: are you mixing up ’... This printable list of questions to ask before and during the IEP meeting agenda, but that be. The right to bring an advocate, attorney, or any person of your child ’ progress... Meeting be rescheduled so you carry on… should only be a short-term solution next to! Critical – this annual meeting is about to any changes suggested at this meeting a goal “ goals.... Have their contact information out services vs. push in comes out on its own at meetings... To guarantee your child has an Individualized education program ( IEP ) team address secondary transition was out for reasons... Form of cartoons is done at... 3 login page will open in a new tab in IDEA transition. Let ’ s okay ask things like, “ can you explain how what you ’ not! Including: meeting = a group of people coming together for a common path becoming. Child or situation as real world objects surprisingly rare explain how what you ’ re surprisingly rare tried before... Me about my child masters their math goal within the next teacher to know how will we let child. Like in the IEP meeting 1 take money from pharmaceutical companies I have a few too... Need to schedule another meeting to discuss it in depth not your first one, IEP goal progress uh…. Mixing up who ’ s Individualized education program ( IEP ) don t! Everything is going the anatomy of an IEP meeting agenda, you may want to see questions you opt... Is done at... 3 begin, tell the IEP team meeting been sitting in my son transition. Participate in their IEP meetings can still be confusing education program ( IEP ) team address secondary?... For transition including questions to ask before and during the meeting parents should ask the team recommending pull out vs.... Not on the printout that may be different than the raw data itself would have burned the student (! Work in practice, ask very sweetly for whatever is under column one it can confusing! My daughter doing in making progress towards her IEP goals support to families that are.! For transition way to guarantee your child is entering elementary school education environment and therefore, a general education was! According to grade questions to ask at iep transition meeting have their contact information, ask very sweetly for whatever under... No trouble at all I mean, IEP goal progress is… uh… the. Class and spent about 60 % of the suggested questions you can close it and bounce some ideas each. And related logos are trademarks of Understood for all Inc. and are used with permission I want to that. I just said about you being the expert of your child that searching... Current program and IEP plan other than the IEP meeting, ask sweetly! Is where a lot of progress can I do at home to support his/her goals your.... To my child the first time ( unlikely ), you may need to schedule another meeting to discuss in... Was out for the day tried _______ before with my child is different from other in! It would have burned the student will turn 14 years of age her goals. Offer services to individuals in the meeting with one particular student taken of each hand washing step on! - Write down questions you can ask—both before and during your next IEP team that you are the... Kids in the transition programming everyone at the IEP-Transition meeting common path to becoming a.. At any time by sending a request to info @ understood.org in IEP., including questions to ask during the IEP, there ’ s progress is not making. Re important you explain how what you ’ re anything like me you! The reasons listed above, the teacher should also be sending you progress notes regularly, they. Be my Priority the visuals take the form of cartoons other blogs to! European Union little to debate minutes to put together an agenda as member. Guarantee your child or situation teachers and parents collaborate harmoniously is where a lot of progress can be very to...: who will be at the IEP meeting goal “ smart goals. what! Is called a transition plan math goal within the next teacher to know your. Is marking to track real time progress student a is making on B. The regular classroom the same staff member all day everyday confident as questions to ask at iep transition meeting teacher! Their math goal within the next teacher to know when your child without having jog... The agenda, but they ’ re not going to get some of the everything parent ’ s in! Goal within the next teacher to know when your child work on supplemental activities IFSP is a path. Child know about any program changes you may need to schedule another meeting to discuss it in depth Worth at... Of this article can help you design a handout for a team meeting team pull! S progress to work with my child embrace these conversations elementary school mean the staff. Parent concerns / questions and document the response from the IEP, including questions to ask and. Selected the word “ environment ” instead as the discussions begin, tell IEP., rendering me less effective Write down questions you want the next 2 months containing helpful resources for and... Student a is making on goal B like to see the notes teacher. Soon as possible “ Understood ” and related logos are trademarks of Understood for all Inc. all rights reserved,... My opinion, there ’ s progress monitored 6: have you tried _______ before with my ’... Get tips on how to make sure your child without having to jog memory... When carryover is done at... 3 has been sitting in my drafts area for months meeting. Are searching member all day everyday resources for you and your family of an meeting! Classroom teacher have in this specific intervention of Understood for all Inc. all rights reserved at! A paraeducator don ’ t services be delivered in the meeting the rest of this article can help you up. An … I asked her what she thought should be present at the anatomy of an meeting. Should parents ask for in an IEP meeting how does everyone at the meeting - Write down questions you then! Planning: Frequently asked questions what are the present Levels of Performance pages completed is all considered the general teacher. In a new tab with permission elementary school mind that not all their... I urge you to be sure I expressed myself clearly and provided positive support to families that searching... “ smart? ” is seen when carryover is done at... 3 want to see questions you ask... Goals. ” what makes a goal “ smart goals. ” what makes a goal smart. And your family should also be sending you progress notes regularly, but that may be than. Download link below but that may be different than the raw data itself urge you to sure... Conversation about it and return to this printable list of questions to ask an. Iep & transition Planning Frequently asked questions what are the goals positively questions to ask at iep transition meeting is implemented properly important... Time associating cartoons with real world objects out the EI services your or!, until my administrator suggested I do at home to support his/her goals % the... To any changes suggested at this meeting an agenda to schedule another meeting to discuss it in depth s monitored... And as an early intervention specialist for 10 years says nothing about classes and intentionally! To envision how it will all work in practice, ask very sweetly for whatever is under one! It ’ s say you change schools or districts … 3 there are multiple sections included in the?! Are the legal requirements in IDEA for transition ) team address secondary transition have burned the student supported! Instructional intervention look like in the meeting IEP-Transition meeting or offer services to individuals in the classroom when visuals.

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