How do you think about Individualized Education Plans?

This yearly meeting is one of the most important elements of a student’s success.  How you think about the meeting is key.  Is it just another task to check off?  Or is it a time to plan for a student’s further education, future employment, and independent living?  IDEA, our federal law that ensures children with disabilities receive an appropriate and fair education, states its purpose is this:  Prepare for further education, employment, and independent living.   Does this make you think about your data collection and goal writing differently? 

IEP Best Practice Tips: 

• Ensure parents are an integral part of the meeting, not just attendees.  

  • Always offer parent rights before the meeting begins. 

  • Encourage meaningful participation by asking open-ended questions about experiences at home and in the community.  Tell me about….  

  • Communicate clearly and check for understanding. Do not use jargon or abbreviations. 

  • Share positive experiences first.  

  • Encourage them to prepare questions and ideas before the meeting 

  • Educate them on terms, strategies, goals, data interpretation, etc. 

  • Time invested in building a relationship with the parent/guardian (and the entire IEP team) is always worth it. 

• Include the student in the discussion and goal setting when age-appropriate

  • Student participation in the process is vital to improving motivation and goal achievement. 

• Plan for success

  • Put the student first by asking  Why we are here and What we want to accomplish.

  • Collaboration is key and conflict is acceptable. It can drive us to see an alternative perspective, negotiate for the best interest of the student, and compromise to ensure we are looking at the whole child. ( For example, two short sessions are better than one. Maybe afternoons are better than mornings….even though this is inconvenient for us).

• Make decisions based on data.

  • Data and documented experiences should always drive instruction and goal-setting.

    
    

 Prepare, Educate, Collaborate, Drive with Data, Celebrate