The Viking Compass

Hello Special Education Families,

One of the best ways we can prepare for IEP meetings as parents and guardians is to make a clear plan for what we want to communicate during the meeting. This ensures that in moments of emotion or distraction, we don’t forget the topics that mean the most to us. There’s nothing worse than remembering what you wanted to say after a meeting is concluded. It’s not that you can’t bring up topics after a meeting, but the moment of being in the same room with the same focus will have passed. To be fair, even with a plan, forgetting to say something is likely during an IEP, but a good list of items for discussion increases the chances that you can share necessary information at the meeting.

You can request a draft of your child's IEP before the meeting so that you have time to review it and prepare. Many of our dedicated Princeton staff members already do this without being asked. If at all possible and with advance notice, this is typically done for parents and guardians.

I took the Pre-Meeting Worksheet shared on p. 5 of All About IEPs by Peter D.W. Wright, Pamela Darr Wright, and Sandra Webb O'Connor, and made a few changes to include more information.

IEP Meeting Pre-Meeting Worksheet

IEP Meeting Date: ___________________________________

IEP Meeting Location: _________________________

Did you receive a draft of the IEP beforehand? ______________

Is the IEP meeting the annual meeting or an extra team meeting? _____________________________________________________________________

Who requested the meeting? ______________________________________________

Who will attend the meeting? _____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Does anything worry you about the meeting? _________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

What outcomes do you want? ______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What outcomes do you think they want? ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

What action do you want them to take? ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

How can you show the team why what you want is necessary for your child to access appropriate education? Remember, showing can be clearer than telling. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What questions do you need to ask before the meeting? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What questions do you need to ask during the meeting? ______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other considerations: ____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Items to Bring Checklist:

I would love to partner with you to prepare for your child's next IEP meeting. Let me know how I can help you!

My Contact Information:

Carol Korte

513-864-1112

cakorte@vikingmail.org