What to expect at an IEP meeting.

A standard IEP team includes:

• You. The parent or guardian. You are a required member of the team.
• The case manager. Usually a member of the Child Study Team (school psychologist, social worker, or LDT-C). They run the meeting.
• A general education teacher. Required if your child is or may be in a general education setting.
• A special education teacher. Your child's special-ed teacher or someone who provides services to your child.
• The Local Education Agency (LEA) representative. Often a special-services administrator who can commit district resources.
• Related service providers — OT, PT, SLP, school counselor — when they're working with your child.
• The interpreter, if your native language isn't English.
• Your child, when appropriate — in New Jersey, by age 14 for transition planning (N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7); federal law sets the floor at 16.

You can also bring anyone you choose — an advocate, a family member, a friend, a therapist outside the school. You don't need permission. You should let the case manager know in advance so the meeting space accommodates everyone.

1. Introductions. Everyone says who they are and why they're at the table.
2. Present levels. The team reviews where your child is academically, behaviorally, and developmentally.
3. Goals. Specific, measurable goals for the next year — usually one or two per area of need.
4. Services. What special-education services and related services your child will receive — the type, how often, how long, and where.
5. Accommodations and modifications. What changes to instruction, materials, or assessment your child needs.
6. Placement. Where the services will be delivered — and how much time your child will spend with non-disabled peers (Least Restrictive Environment).
7. Consent. If anything is changing, you'll be asked to consent in writing.

• "Can you explain that in a different way?"
• "What does that acronym mean?"
• "How will we know if this goal is being met?"
• "What does that placement look like for my child's day?"
• "Can the interpreter sight-translate this form before I sign?"
• "Can I take this home and bring it back signed next week?" (You almost always can.)
• "Can we schedule a follow-up to discuss this further?"

1. The interpreter should sight-translate the document before you sign.
2. You can take the IEP home to review before consenting. You don't have to sign at the meeting.
3. You can consent to parts of an IEP — for example, agree to the goals but disagree with the placement. This is allowed.

If anything is unclear, you do not have to sign. See your rights as a parent.