WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE GOOD NOTES AT YOUR CHILD’S IEP MEETING THIS SCHOOL YEAR

Why It’s Important to Take Good Notes

at Your Child’s IEP Meeting This School Year

By Carly Quinlan

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME MEANS BACK TO IEP TIME! YOU CAN REQUEST TO HAVE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) AMENDMENT MEETING AT ANY TIME, BUT IT IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO MEET A MINIMUM OF ONCE PER YEAR, DEPENDING ON WHEN YOUR CHILD’S IEP IS DUE FOR ANNUAL REVIEW. IN EVERY IEP MEETING, YOU MAY SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE TYPING AWAY, DOCUMENTING EVERY DETAIL FOR THE SCHOOL’S COPY OF MEETING NOTES, WHICH SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PAPERWORK YOU RECEIVE AT THE END OF YOUR MEETING. HOWEVER, NOT EVERY DETAIL THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU WILL BE INCLUDED IN THEIR NOTES; HENCE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT YOU TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES AS WELL. IN THE WORLD OF IEPS, THERE IS A SAYING: “IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN.” THIS IS WHY AS AN IEP ADVOCATE AND CONSULTANT, I RECOMMEND PARENTS ALWAYS SUBMIT A FOLLOW-UP THANK YOU LETTER AFTER THE MEETING SUMMARIZING VITAL DECISIONS AND DETAILS AGREED UPON THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU CAN REQUEST TO HAVE THIS ADDED TO THE IEP AS A PARENT ATTACHMENT. THIS CREATES A PAPER TRAIL IF THERE ARE ANY DISCREPANCIES LATER ON.

It’s a good idea to make your own notes to ensure you fully understand your child’s IEP. You should fully understand exactly how the following areas will be fulfilled for your child after the meeting. If you are not sure, ask! Speak up if you disagree, because as a parent, you ARE a member of the team and CAN add your ideas and suggestions!

Note-taking areas to focus on: • New goals your child will be working on for each area • Accommodations and modifications • Behavioral supports (if applicable) • Qualify for Extended School Year (ESY) • Special bus transportation details • Your child’s LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) placement after considering all options and supports • Amount of time spent with neurotypical peers • The what, when, where, and how of related service minutes (i.e., for speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, adaptive physical education, etc.) • The school’s response to each of your concerns, requests, thoughts, and ideas to follow up on to keep all accountable It’s a good idea to cross-reference your notes with the final copy of the IEP you receive following the meeting to ensure all areas were updated accurately, as discussed. Sometimes essential details and edits don’t save correctly in certain IEP software programs due to technical glitches, and/or sometimes there is just so much discussing going on, the school team may forget to update certain things (it happens!). So, if you recognize discrepancies, bring them to the IEP team’s attention as soon as possible to make an amendment. Reminder: the school is only required to implement what is listed in the final copy of the IEP. Therefore, there must be no typos based on what was discussed. This is where referencing your notes as an IEP parent attachment is helpful.

If you are too overwhelmed during the meeting to take notes or not sure how to confirm all changes were updated in the appropriate areas of your child’s new plan, an IEP consultant/ advocate can help you via a report review.

All the best to you on a successful transition into the new school year and rocking your IEP meetings this year!

Email me for your FREE copy of A Parent’s Note Taking Template for the IEP Meeting to help keep your note-taking on track during the meeting at IEPconsultingLLC@gmail.com.

Carly Quinlan is the owner of IEP Consulting, LLC. With eight years of experience as a special education teacher and IEP case manager, and as a sibling of a brother with Down syndrome and autism, she has a unique perspective and knowledge base of the world of IEP’s. She has experience and training in Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Intervention Plans, advocacy training in special education law as a non-lawyer advocate, as well as ongoing professional development. With many years of experience on both sides of an IEP table and “behind the scenes” of special education services, she can help you navigate the IEP process, ensuring your concerns are heard and addressed through negotiations with the school team. Services include phone consultations, report review, letter writing, meeting preparation assistance, and IEP meeting participation.

Website: https://iepconsultingllc.blogspot.com Email: IEPconsultingLLC@gmail.com