--- title: 5 things to do during an IEP meeting description: What should you do during your child’s IEP meeting? Here are five ways to collaborate with the team and advocate for your child during IEP meetings. slug: 5-important-things-to-do-during-an-iep-meeting author: Kristin Stanberry reviewer: Whitney Hollins published: '2019-10-16T12:22:40.185Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/516Is2S7H73M8BmBSXXUkO/09a0ca1fa9531775149f6ac15b40eb52/G464675177.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-during-an-iep-meeting lang: en --- # 5 things to do during an IEP meeting What should you do during your child’s [IEP](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-individualized-education-programs) meeting? Here are five ways to advocate for your child and be an effective team member. ## 1. Talk about your child. No one on the IEP team knows your child the way you do. Share your perspective on your child’s personality, struggles, and strengths. You don’t have to limit what you say to academics. Talk about how your child does on sports teams and other activities outside of school. This helps the team know more about your child’s abilities and interests. ## 2. Keep an open mind. If someone brings up an issue or solution you’re not sure of, hear them out. Sometimes challenges come up in school that you don’t see at home. After all, school is a different environment, with different rules and expectations. By working together, you can make the plan that best suits your child’s needs. ## 3. Ask questions. Special education laws and programs are complicated. Even if you’re well prepared, you may hear new terms during an IEP meeting. When this happens, ask for an explanation. You have a right to understand every detail and decision. You can even ask in advance for someone to take notes during the meeting. Then ask for a copy of the notes at the end of the meeting. ## 4. Focus on the outcome. Make sure the team understands your expectations and goals for your child. This keeps everyone on the same page as you work together on a plan. Ask questions about what the team proposes. You can suggest changes, too. If you’re not sure how something supports the goals for your child, share that concern. ## 5. Speak up for your child’s rights — and yours. For example, if you’re told the district won’t cover certain services, ask to see the section of the [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know) (IDEA) that supports that. If you’re unsure about the IEP draft, don’t feel pressured into [signing it](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-to-double-check-on-your-childs-iep). (Signing the attendance page doesn’t mean you agree with the IEP. It just means you attended.) Exercise your right to take the IEP draft home and think it over. [Be polite but firm](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-politely-decline-iep-draft). Now read about [five things to do after the IEP meeting](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-after-an-iep-meeting). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [5 things to do before an IEP meeting](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-before-an-iep-meeting) - Preparation is the key to being an effective, confident advocate at your childs IEP meetings. Here are five important things to do before an IEP meeting. 1. Pull and review your records. Pull out your copies of official documents, including your childs current IEP, recent progress reports, and repor - [5 things to do after an IEP meeting](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-after-an-iep-meeting) - After an IEP meeting, you need to take care of some details. These can vary from one meeting to the next. Here are five important things to do after an IEP meeting. 1. Share your notes. After the IEP meeting, send an email or letter to the case manager summarizing what decisions and questions came o - [5 reasons parents play a key role in the IEP process](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/playing-a-role-in-the-iep-process) - - Parents are, by law, equal members of their childs IEP team. - You may not be an expert about special education, but you are an expert about your child. - Your input helps the team assess your childs skills and develop IEP goals. If youre new to special education, you may wonder what your ro --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-during-an-iep-meeting#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-important-things-to-do-during-an-iep-meeting","description":"What should you do during your child’s IEP meeting? 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