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So, who’s on this IEP Team? IDEA says that the team shall consist of:
• The parents of the child with a disability (good idea for both parents to be there if at all possible.)
• Not less than one regular education teacher of this child (if the child is participating in the regular education environment)
• Not less than one special education teacher
• A representative of the LEA who is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of special education services – the person who can commit special education resources. This person is often the special education director, supervisor, or a lead special education teacher in larger school districts. This also includes the individual school’s administration – principal or vice principal.• An individual who can interpret the instruction implications of evaluation results. This is often the school psychologist and/or the other individuals who conducted the evaluations…speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, etc.
• At the discretion of the parent or the agency, other individuals with special knowledge or expertise regarding the child.
• When appropriate, the child with the disability.
Tips for who you should make sure is on the team:
1. the teacher who works most closely with your child should be there –whether that is a regular education or special education teacher.
2. If the child is not served in regular education, a regular education teacher at the grade level of your child should be on the team. This person is there to answer specific questions about curriculum and grade level information.
3. Any and all persons at the school who conducted evaluations of your child.
4. the decision-makers. Don’t waste your time going to an IEP meeting where the administrators are not present. Teachers are often not able to commit services and resources. I often hear from parents who attend meetings where no special education administrator or principal is present, and the teacher has to conclude the meeting by saying that she’ll have to run all this by her principal for approval. The administrator should be in attendance and able to commit to resources during the meeting.
5. any outside professionals you think are necessary. Keep in mind that you may have to pay these people a small fee for their time to attend the IEP, but their input can be invaluable in explaining your child’s disabilities.
6. whoever you feel is appropriate. Don’t go to the meeting alone! Take someone with you. This person is there for several reasons, so not only should this person know your child, but provide you support. A relative, pastor, friend with a special needs child are all good choices.
Should my child attend the IEP? For most of us with younger children the answer is not yet, but eventually our children need to learn to self-advocate. So as soon as the child is able, and not later than age 14, the child should be included in the IEP meeting to express their own needs for services and support, and to make their own decisions about accommodations and transition plans.
