How do I review my child's IEP at the beginning of the school year?

About four to six weeks after school begins, make time to review some key areas of your child’s IEP to see what may need updating or adjusting. This can help you determine whether you need to call a fall check-in meeting with your IEP team.

Spend some time reviewing your child’s IEP the way you would before signing it. Check out our article How to Make Sure Your IEP Is Being Followed for a breakdown of how to make sure your child’s teachers and school are providing everything they agreed to. Focus on the most important parts of the IEP: pay special attention to the list of accommodations/modifications as well as the related services. Are they providing everything your child needs for the new school year? If not, request an IEP meeting to make updates.

You should also:

• Request any necessary assessments
• Review your child’s goals and make sure they’re based on the Common Core State Standards
• Review your child’s access to socialization and general education activities
• Make sure there’s an emergency plan for your child

Check out this article for more information about what you should check up on at the beginning of the school year to set your kid up for success.