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For parents and caregivers

What should I ask at my child’s first IEP meeting?

Ask what the school knows about your child’s strengths, what goals the team proposes, which supports will help, and how you will hear about progress. Bring a short list of your own priorities and ask the team to explain unfamiliar terms.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting brings a US public-school team together to plan special education and related services for your child. You can bring your questions and concerns into the discussion; the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act says the team considers parent concerns and the child’s strengths.

Before the meeting: pick two priorities

Write down one thing your child enjoys or does well and one part of the school day you want to make easier. For example: “My child loves drawing. How can drawing help them join an activity with classmates?” Ask the school for evaluation results or any proposed materials you can look at before the meeting. Bring notes, a way to record answers, and someone you trust if that would help.

Questions to take with you

  1. Strengths and needs: What do the evaluation and classroom observations tell us? What does this result mean in my child’s school day?
  2. Goals: What would we like my child to be able to do? How will we know whether this goal is being met?
  3. Supports: What teaching, services or other supports are proposed? Who will provide them, where and how often?
  4. Participation: How will my child take part in classroom routines and activities with classmates? What support will help?
  5. Progress: How will progress be measured, and when and how will I hear about it?
  6. Next steps: What happens after today, and who should I contact with questions?

You do not have to ask everything at once. Circle the two questions most useful to your family. If an answer is unclear, try “Can you give me an example of what that would look like on a school day?”

Before you leave

Read back your notes: “My understanding is that the next step is ___, and I can contact ___.” Ask for a copy of the plan and how to follow up. If you are asked to sign a form, ask what the signature means and what happens next. Our IEP starter kit has a meeting checklist and more detail on questions about US procedures.

Keep preparing

Free tool: Use the IEP starter kit and printable meeting-prep checklist to organize your questions.

Learn more: The Intro to Autism Bundle brings together webinars, eBooks and practical resources for families learning about autism and ABA. It is US $79 for three months of access; a seven-day free trial is available.