Back-to-school IEP prep

Learn

• Fill out an IEP snapshot

  A one-page IEP snapshot can help your child know what services and accommodations to expect (and to ask for) at school. It can also help them learn more about their strengths, challenges, and IEP goals.

  Go over the snapshot together. Your child can also take the snapshot to school and use it to remind teachers about what’s in the IEP.

  Understood's free snapshot can be used for kids with an IEP or a 504 plan. It also includes a filled-in example.

• Send the IEP to your child's teachers

  Sending a copy of the IEP can help make everyone aware of your child’s needs. It also helps keep general education teachers involved.

  The key is to balance acting as your child’s advocate while assuming positive intent from school staff members. Starting from a spirit of collaboration can help the year go smoothly.

• Send teachers an update

  When kids are going back to school, it’s an important time for families and teachers to connect. Your child’s new teacher will want to know about the last school year. Was school stressful for your child? Did your child make friends? What helped your child learn?

  Use Understood’s back-to-school update to let the teacher know how your child is doing. You can fill it out online or print it and fill it in by hand.

• Ask your child to write a letter

  An introduction letter is a great way to share unique things teachers should know about your child that aren’t included in the IEP. This kind of back-to-school letter helps the teacher get to know your child’s strengths and what your child needs help with.

  Kids can fill these templates out on their own (or with a little help from you). Understood has a template for older kids and a template for younger kids. You can use the one for older kids as a guide to write a more traditional letter, if you and your child prefer.