How to Have a Successful IEP Meeting

Having Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings comes with the territory when you're a special education teacher. An IEP meeting requires the special education teacher to share data on a student and then set goals for the entire year with a group of people who work with the student, including the parents. The special education teacher can do many things to lead this type of meeting in a positive direction.

Instructions

1. Limit the number of people invited to the meeting. Too many people can often overwhelm parents and leave them feeling intimidated. Parents tend to feel more comfortable talking about their child if the people at the meeting are only those directly involved with the student.

2. Check the seating arrangement before the meeting starts. Don't put parents on one side of a table and all school personnel on the other side. A round table with parents seated near the teacher is often the best way to seat all meeting guests.

3. Greet the IEP meeting guests by name in a friendly manner as they arrive. Have name tags made for everyone involved, with first and last names. After everyone is seated, have all participants go around the table and introduce themselves, sharing how they work with the student in question. Go over the parental rights with the parent, making sure to answer any questions they have about these rights.

4. Begin the meeting by having everyone state a positive about the child. Often times simply sharing one positive thing about the student allows for a positive meeting because it gets it started on a great note.

5. Share the data you have collected with everyone involved. After you share each piece of information related to the goals and objectives in the IEP, allow input from each person at the meeting. Encourage taking turns by going around the table to share concerns or agreement of the goal in question.

6. Finish the meeting by asking if there are any further questions or concerns. If there are none, the meeting can end. If there are questions or concerns, address them in a positive manner. Make sure to end the meeting on a positive note by shaking hands with all involved and thanking everyone for attending the IEP meeting.

Tips & Warnings

• If you discover that all involved in the meeting can't come to an agreement on a goal, suggest putting that goal on the back burner by meeting about it at a later date. Trying to discuss a goal that isn't agreed upon can lead to frustration. Getting together again at a later date can help people cool off and have a more level head when meeting again.