Family participation is an essential feature of the development and implementation of high-quality educational programming for students with disabilities. Families bring important information related to their child's academic, functional, and behavioral strengths, needs, and goals. As a result, it is important to ensure that the individualized education program (IEP) team is truly a partnership that values all participants' perspectives. All participants must understand each team members’ role and value the expertise they bring to the development and implementation of the IEP.
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Parents, you are an expert in your child! Your thoughts, questions, and feedback are valuable in the IEP development. In this role, it is essential that you understand the IEP and its parts, why the IEP is important, and the valuable role you play in creating the IEP. This resource includes information to consider before, during, and after the IEP meeting. It includes information about the parts of the meeting, questions to consider asking during the meeting, and a place to take notes.
Tools
Student and parent voices are critical to developing an IEP that promotes progress and is individualized to help the student meet future goals. These forms were developed to help IEP teams work with parents and students to gather information and perspectives prior to the IEP meeting to ensure that the meeting can run efficiently and focused on the unique needs and goals of the student. The forms ask parents and students to share goals, strengths, needs, and what has and hasn't worked to support the student at school, at home, and in the community.
Tools
This tip sheet reviews the members of the IEP team and their roles. It highlights required members and additional members who may be beneficial in developing an IEP that best meets your child's needs. Some key questions to consider and additional resources are included.
Fact Sheet
Parents are critical members of the IEP team. This tip sheet is intended to help parents understand the key elements of the individualized education program (IEP) and the IEP development process.
Fact Sheet
In this Stories from the Classroom video, Dr. David Bateman shares a story of an IEP meeting that serves as a reminder that the IEP is meant to address all of the student’s individual needs and how important family input and perspective is to the development and implementation of an IEP that meets their child's needs.
Video
What can we learn from the experiences of families and youth to guide our development and implementation of high-quality educational programming for students with disabilities? In this webinar, Stacy Hirt and Joey Hunziker share findings from a series of focus groups with families and caregivers who had a child with an IEP during their school years and young adults who were supported with an IEP while in school. Educational planning successes, challenges, and recommendations from the lens of focus group participants will be highlighted.
Webinar
Students learn best and are the most successful when they are welcomed and feel a sense of belonging at school. At the same time, many educators struggle to meaningfully include students with disabilities in the school community. In this webinar, Dr. Erik Carter, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Special Education at Vanderbilt University, shares a powerful framework for reflecting upon and fostering belonging within our schools and classrooms.
Webinar
This course provides a review of the team members responsible for collaboratively developing the students individualized education program (IEP) as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and explains their roles on the IEP Team. This module also reviews some additional considerations for team membership and engagement in the IEP development process.
Online Module
Check out the trailer for the new Path to PROGRESS Podcast. This podcast features educators discussing hot topics in education, with a focus on supporting students with disabilities. Episodes will tackle questions from the field and share free resources that educators and leaders can use to develop and implement high-quality educational programs for students with disabilities. Episode 1 is out now!
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