School’s Back! 5 Essentials for the First Week
1) Send an introductory letter and at-a-glance IEP
2) Make a plan for inclusion
3) Make a plan for staff shortages
4) Reach out to your IEP team to request a one-month check-in
When your child is starting out the school year, whether it’s at a new school or with a new teacher, it’s a good idea to set a check-in meeting four to six weeks after school begins. Here’s a refresher on how to request an IEP meeting.
While you may have specific things in their IEP to discuss, the main reason it’s important to hold this meeting is to start building trust and relationships with a new IEP team. Dr. Pelangka explains why in this clip:
5) Prepare for assessment plans
Dr. Pelangka recommends asking your district to wait about thirty days into the new school year, depending on how quickly your child is able to adapt, before offering an assessment plan. Many students struggle with changes in routine, and your child may need time to acclimate to their new classroom, services, and school environment. A thorough assessment is the first step to creating a strong IEP that accurately reflects your child's goals, strengths, and areas of need, so waiting until students are comfortable can go a long way toward making that happen.
Read more about the types of IEP assessments, how students are assessed, and how parents can review their child's assessments in our article IEP Assessments 101.