Strategies for Parents to Get Ready for School IEP Meetings

The writer discusses the challenges they faced in getting accommodations for themselves and their child and shares the valuable insights they gained into the IEP process for children with disabilities. They provide essential information to help parents understand IEPs and how to effectively advocate for their child.

What is included in an IEP?

• Current performance: Evaluation of the child’s current performance in school through tests and assignments.
• Annual goals and objectives: Reasonable goals for the child to achieve within a year, often broken down into short-term objectives.
• Progress tracking: Regular testing or feedback from teachers to track the child’s progress.
• Special education and related services: Detailed description of the student’s special education program and how it caters to their needs, such as one-on-one aides or special faculty training.
• Educational placement: Ensuring the child is in the least restrictive environment.
• Transition services: Addressing the courses the child needs to reach their post-school goals, starting at age 14 or earlier if appropriate.
• Testing adaptations: Specifying testing accommodations, such as extra time or wheelchair accessible tests, and whether the child will participate in state tests.
• Duration of services: Frequency and location of the child’s individual program.

Understanding LRE

Least restrictive environment (LRE) is a guiding principle for a child’s education plan, emphasizing that children with an IEP should be included in general education as much as possible, only being placed in separate classes or schools if it significantly impairs their education in the general classroom.

Preparing for the IEP Meeting

Three key ways to prepare and advocate for your child:

1. Gather documents

Collect your child’s school records, diagnosis, and treatment information to ensure thorough documentation and support your advocacy for necessary accommodations.

2. List strengths, weaknesses, and support needs

Create a list of your child’s strengths and weaknesses, along with any specific support needs, to ensure nothing is overlooked during the meeting.

3. Know your rights

Understand your rights, including the right to receive copies of district evaluations, the ability to audio-record the meeting with prior notice, and the right to a translator if needed. You can also bring a friend or advocate to provide support during the meeting.

The writer provides valuable insights and practical advice for parents navigating the IEP process for their child, drawing from their personal experiences and lessons learned.The provided code appears to be minified and obfuscated JavaScript code. It seems to be performing a variety of operations related to HTTP requests and checking the device type. The code also interacts with localStorage, checks for specific conditions, and triggers events based on these conditions.

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