The IEP team is charged with making educational decisions for students, and addresses issues such as eligibility, evaluation, program development, and placement of a child in special education or gifted programs. Parents and guardians know their kids better and should be very involved in the IEP process. Don’t let school personnel intimidate you in this process. Your role as an advocate for your child is paramount. Parents may not be educators themselves, but they bring their years of experience in other professions and aspects of life to the process, along with their experience with their own child. They may be the only adults who closely observe students’ work and get feedback from their children. Consequently, no one else has the perspective of a guardian or parent in a meeting. It’s also critical for parents to be well-versed in district, state, and federal laws governing special education. Sadly, not all school administrators follow the rules, and parents need to be prepared to ask for what their kids need. Parents and guardians should be prepared to offer insight into whether current strategies and instruction are helping the child learn (even when not specifically asked), and provide suggestions for change and improvement. This back-and-forth communication—listening to your child’s educators so you can practice at home, and having the educators hear your thoughts so they can follow through at school—will be less confusing to your child. And it will reinforce efforts on both sides. Only the parent or guardian accompanies the child throughout these important school and life transitions. Their input at each transition can ensure that appropriate services and supports are in place and increase the chances of the child’s success in the new program.
Correspond with teachers and other professionals in writing whenever possible, and hang on to these communications so that you can refer back to them. Keep careful records of your child’s education, including any testing and any IEP reports. Find a way to file these carefully so that you have them on hand readily if needed. Learn as much as you can about your child’s disability. Observe your child’s learning styles. Despite the specialized tests which attempt to discern how children learn best, parents are in the best position to watch this in action every single day.
