How can I make sure a substitute teacher is following the IEP?

Whether your child has a substitute teacher for one day or an extended period of time, you want to make sure your child's IEP is still being followed, and they are able to access their accommodations, modifications, and services. Here are tips for making sure a sub is kept up to date and accountable:

• In some cases, the substitute general ed teacher may not have access to your child’s confidential records, so give them a copy of your child's IEP. Even better, give them a summary that is easy to read. Our "All About Me" template works great for this!
• You can talk to your child's case manager or resource specialist about making sure subs are informed.
• Once the substitute teacher has been informed of your child's IEP, you can ask open-ended questions to make sure the IEP is being followed. For example, you can ask "How is it going with my child's seating accommodation?" or "How is my child doing with their behavior goal?" See how the teacher responds.
• If you're concerned whether your child is still getting all their IEP services, you can ask for service logs for SAI and related services.
• You can ask for a 20-minute observation of the class to see whether your child's IEP is being implemented. Not all teachers will agree to this, but it's worth asking. You could also ask if another observer could come in on your behalf, or if the teacher could capture a short video for you.
• Quiz your child! If your child can tell you about the accommodations and services they're receiving at school, have a conversation to assess whether their IEP is being followed.

For more tips, see our full article How to Make Sure Your IEP Is Being Followed (and What to Do If It Isn’t).