Getting Organized for IEP Meetings

Being prepared for student IEP meetings takes a ton of prep and ORGANIZATION! There is so much that goes into preparing for a meeting. It is super important that you feel organized and have all your ducks in a row BEFORE the meeting.

When I was first starting teaching, I was super nervous before every meeting. I feared I forgot to do something, or I was going to be put on the spot and not know the answer. I had that clammy feeling and shakiness in my voice… so fun! Man, was I glad when that was over!

After YEARS of attending student IEP meetings (in Texas we call them ARD meetings), I found a system that worked for me. Gone where the days of walking into a meeting not feeling prepared or clammy!

Feeling prepared 101: Special Education Meeting Binder.. is full of all things organization! I am a huge fan of checklists. I love the feeling of being able to cross off or check items off a list. The same goes for preparing for an IEP meeting. There are so many things to accomplish. I created an IEP Annual Checklist, Teacher Checklist and IEP Meeting Agenda to help with getting organized for meetings. Bouns: you can edit them!

It’s super important to get teacher input and parent input BEFORE writing student IEP goals. These forms are easy to use to send home, give to general education teachers and related services to fill out. Once completed, use the information to help generate draft student IEP goals. Don’t forget to send copies home well in advance for families to review.

IEP overviews are a quick and easy was to access and review student’s services and information. I always give a copy of these forms to parents, general education teachers and staff that are working with my students. It is a quick reference for them and easy to follow and update during a meeting.

I print off extra copies of these forms and IEP meeting notes to offer to members of the meeting. I have found that using these snapshots and forms help general education teachers and administration better understand student information and services.

TIP: Providing meeting note pages also encourages all members to be attentive and active participants in the meeting. Taking notes during the meeting is a good thing!

You have the option to edit and type directly in PowerPoint student information. This makes it easy to use and edit when needed!

Discussing student accommodations during a meeting can take up a lot of time. I like to get input from others before the meeting, including families. This form is a fast way to determine what accommodations are most appropriate for students. Final determinations of accommodations are always done during a meeting, but this helps to find common accommodations that both teacher, staff and families agree on.

This is just a glimpse into my Special Education IEP Meeting Binder. There is a ton in this binder, and it all points to helping you prepare and attend all IEP meetings with confidence!

Grab your free copy of my IEP Snapshot to get you started on feeling organized!