IEP Meeting Checklist for Parents (Free PDF)

As an advocate, I have attended literally hundreds of IEP meetings. I know you, Moms. You’re stressed and anxious. This IEP meeting checklist is one that I use with my clients, and now I’m sharing it with you.

As an advocate, I have attended countless Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. These meetings are crucial in ensuring that students with disabilities receive the appropriate education and services they need to succeed.

However, I have also witnessed firsthand how overwhelming and stressful these meetings can be for parents and educators alike.

To help alleviate some of this stress, I have created an IEP meeting checklist that outlines important considerations and tasks to complete before, during, and after the meeting.

By using this checklist, parents can feel more organized and confident going into the meeting, which can ultimately lead to better outcomes for the student.

Attending all those IEP meetings has also given me a tremendous view of all kinds of people and meetings and ways to prepare.

If you hire a Special Education Advocate, you might be paying someone to do some of the items below. But, even if that is the case, you should use the list below to make sure you are prepared.

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IEP Preparation Checklist

If you found this article and you don’t have enough time to do all of these, please don’t stress over it.

Use it as a learning opportunity to be better prepared next time. It’s never too late to be prepared for an IEP meeting. You may just have some backtracking and do-overs as a result of what you learn now.

So you see this list of items from the IEP meeting checklist? I have an article on this site that corresponds with most of them. Isn’t that awesome?

If you’ve printed it and you have it in front of you, you can use it with the blog post to do the deep dive as they say. Check back often, as I think of new items I will add them.

If you want to grab all of my IEP advocacy tools, the IEP Toolkit for Parents is available. Click that hyperlink for more information.

IEP Meeting Checklist

1. Reviewed current IEP with notes and highlighter.
2. Participated in the 5 essential parts of the IEP process.
3. Wrote a thorough Parent Concerns letter.
4. Completed IEP Vision Statement with family.
5. Talked with my child about attending the meeting.
6. In agreement with the child’s other parent about issues, if applicable.
7. If applicable talked with Advocate about last-minute details.
8. A compiled list of the child’s strengths, and ideas on how to leverage them.
9. Reviewed necessary school district policies (attendance, discipline).
10. Compiled a list of suggested IEP goals,  IEP strategies, and504 plan accommodations
11. Rehearsed difficult conversations in my head or in front of the mirror (or in the car)
12. Have printouts about the child’s condition or from specialists.
13. Researched IEP evaluations and strategies for child’s issues.
14. RSVP’d to the meeting with expectations of who I expect to be there.
15. Have childcare for other children.
16. Requested time off work, and cleared schedule.
17. Have your outfit picked out (for confidence).
18. Cleared schedule the day before and after the meeting (for prep and rest, if possible).

Here is the PDF again if you want to print it.

There are so many parents out there right now looking for IEP meeting tips.

And so many parent mentors and advocates who are willing to help. Join them in our Message Boards (free!).

Reasons to Use an IEP Meeting Checklist

Using an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting checklist can provide several benefits for parents, including:

1. Ensuring that all necessary information is addressed: An IEP meeting checklist can help parents ensure that all necessary information is addressed during the meeting. This includes information about the child’s strengths, needs, goals, accommodations, and services.
2. Promoting organization and clarity: A checklist can help parents stay organized and focused during the meeting, which can promote clarity and understanding. It can also ensure that all relevant documents and materials are available and discussed.
3. Facilitating communication with the school team: A checklist can help parents communicate their concerns and questions to the school team in a clear and organized manner. This can help facilitate productive discussions and improve the likelihood of achieving the child’s goals.
4. Encouraging active participation: A checklist can encourage parents to actively participate in the meeting by asking questions, providing feedback, and advocating for their child’s needs. This can help ensure that the child’s IEP is truly individualized and meets their unique needs.
5. Serving as a reference after the meeting: A checklist can serve as a reference for parents after the meeting, helping them to remember important information, goals, and action steps. It can also help parents track progress and follow up with the school team as needed.