What to double-check on your child’s IEP

After an initial eligibility IEP meeting, the school may ask you to sign your child’s IEP. In some states, this serves as informed consent to provide services. That means you’re giving the school permission to implement the IEP as it’s been written.

It’s important to make sure everything is in order and accurate before you sign.

Many states don’t require getting your signature again to continue implementing an IEP (unless there are changes in services). But it’s always a good idea to double-check the document you get after a meeting.

Use this list to review your child’s IEP. You can click below to download and print the list.

Is all the basic information there and correct?

• Does it give the date the new IEP will go into effect?
• Are your child’s name, age, student ID number, and grade level correct?
• Is all your contact information correct?
• Does it give the name of your child’s IEP case manager?

Is it clear?

• Are the annual goals SMART?
• Are all supports and services clearly stated with enough detail?
• Does it state how and when the school will measure and report your child’s progress toward annual IEP goals?
• Is the statement of your child’s present level of performance (PLOP or PLAAFP) based on information from you and your child’s teachers?

Is it accurate and complete?

• Does it include everything you agreed to in the meeting, including accommodations, special education services, and measurable annual goals?
• If the team agreed to changes to the IEP at the meeting, do they appear in the final document?
• Are your parental concerns and commentary accurately represented?
• Is there anything in the IEP that you didn’t discuss or agree to in the meeting?

If you don’t feel comfortable with everything on the IEP, learn how to consent to some parts of it and not others. If you’re unclear about what needs to be included in an IEP, take a look at this visual of an IEP plan. You might also want to review IEP terms and what they mean.