IEP Parent Training: What It Is and How to Get It Written Into Your IEP.

Most parents have no idea this even exists. You can actually get training written into your child’s IEP…and most schools will never bring it up unless you ask. And no, this isn’t some “extra.” It’s written right into IDEA. In fact, the team is obligated to provide you with training if it’s appropriate.

Parent counseling and training is an IEP related service. Yes, you read that correctly! If you are looking it up, it’s under the definition of related services. Which is kind of wild when you think about it…because parents are expected to support the IEP at home, but no one teaches them how to do it.

Many parents are intimidated because school personnel may know more about pedagogy or curriculum. But there’s no need to be intimidated because yes, training is available if you need it.

Why Most Parents Never Get Training in their IEP

Like everything else in special education, the team has to decide it’s “necessary” for your child to receive FAPE. Womp, womp. So yes, it’s available. But no, you’re probably not going to be offered it. You have to ask. These are the reasons most parents don’t have this on their IEP.

• Schools don’t offer it unless asked.
• Parents don’t know it exists.
• Teams assume you’ll “figure it out.”
• And honestly…there’s not enough staff or time. (but they don’t actually have to provide the training–they just have to make it available if it’s warranted)

So what happens? Parents sit in IEP meetings, nod along, go home…and still have no idea how to actually help their kid with some of the things. Sound familiar?

Fun fact: I am an approved provider of this training, from some Parent Training Information centers in California. In other words, some California parents have done my advocacy training, and got reimbursed from their parent training and information center. You just never know unless you ask!

Parent Training in IDEA

IEP Parent Training is found in Section §300.34(c)(8) and reads:

(8)(i) Parent counseling and training means assisting parents in understanding the special needs of their child;

(ii) Providing parents with information about child development; and

(iii) Helping parents to acquire the necessary skills that will allow them to support the implementation of their child’s IEP or IFSP.

Statute/Regs Main » Regulations » Part B » Subpart A » Section 300.34 » c » 8

The first two parts of this definition are longstanding in IDEA.

The last part—regarding helping parents acquire the necessary skills that will allow them to support the implementation of their child’s IEP or IFSP—was added in the 1997 revision “to recognize the more active role of parents as participants in the education of their children” and is retained in IDEA 2004.

As with all IEP related services, parent counseling and training would only be provided to parents “if a child’s IEP team determines that it is necessary for the child to receive FAPE.

Womp, womp. So there you go. Just like any other part of your child’s IEP, it’s a negotiation. Put your Parent Concerns in writing, do the ask, and ask for a follow-up with a PWN.

What counts as Parent Training on an IEP?

Many parents find training and education on their own. Either you read articles online or you might attend workshops or other events that you’ve heard about from networking with other families.

However, it has come to my attention recently that, particularly for Black families, training and education for an IEP are rarely offered. Keep that in mind if you work on an IEP team and that your unconscious biases are not preventing you from offering training to some parents.

That being said, over the years, I have found some areas where parent training is particularly necessary or may only be available from a school team. Here are some ideas for adding parent training to your IEP if appropriate.

IEP Training for Parents: What You Can Actually Ask For

1. How to use assistive technology (AT devices, apps, software)
2. Training on software or computer programs that the child needs–anything you don’t understand, Study Island, Schoology, Nearpod, etc. (this one is huge!)
3. IEP Data collection: How to collect and understand IEP data (so you’re not guessing)
4. Training on your child’s reading program (so you can reinforce it at home)
5. Behavior strategies used at school (so you can be consistent at home)
6. Any part of your child’s supports, services, or eligibility category that you do not understand.
7. Transition planning (middle school, high school, adulthood)
8. Postsecondary options like OVR, workplace training, 13th years, etc.
9. Explanations on vocational options if your child is pursuing that instead of the traditional college route.
10. Any practice, exercises, or routines that your child does at school that you need to reinforce at home.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. It is just a handful of ideas that were a natural fit to add to an IEP. Over the years, these are the parent training options I have successfully helped clients get on their IEPs, and we were not met with much resistance.

How to Ask for Parent Training in an IEP

Put your request in writing (email, always email, not phone calls). Tie it to your child’s needs.

• “I need training to support his reading program at home”

Ask for it as a related service under IDEA. If they say no → request Prior Written Notice (PWN). Document everything. Schools love to say “we’ll handle it.”

But if you don’t understand the program, the data, or the strategies…how are you supposed to support your child at home? That’s exactly why this exists. The folks who wrote IDEA recognize that parents need training on some of this stuff.

Who Provides IEP Training for Parents

I see a lot of IEP teams panic when this is brought up at an IEP meeting. They assume that they will be personally responsible for providing this training. And the thought of doing that, with an already tight schedule or large caseload, feels overwhelming. (probably why they’re so resistant to add this to IEPs)

But team members do not have to actually provide the training. They can provide resources. Parents can find resources and ask for reimbursement.

Look at publisher websites, for who publishes the curriculum or program your child is using. Look at who manufactures the device your child uses, or the software program on it. See if they have training available. I’ve found that teams are much more agreeable to this when solutions are brought to them–and they don’t have to find it for you.

Plus, it ensures that you’re receiving the training you feel you need to be a meaningful IEP team participant.

About that Free IEP Training

Because schools are overwhelmed and don’t have the resources, when you ask for parent training to be added to your IEP, don’t be surprised if the school directs you to some of the free options out there.

To be clear–I am not knocking any of them. I’ve been on their sites, I’ve attended their webinars….I have a good idea of what’s out there. And free training is a good start. After all, I have lots of free tools and videos and 1000 articles on this site for you to use. A determined parent can DIY all of this if they want to.

However, in my experience, there are a couple of issues or concerns that I have with some of the free stuff out there.

• It’s often very high level, generic or “vanilla” as they say. And with IEPs, the devil is in the details. Yes, high level knowledge of the IEP process is essential. But at some point you really have to dig in and know the specifics for your child’s situation.
• As an example to the point above, I recently attended a webinar from one of these agencies because I was curious. Their advice was things like “bring a list of questions to ask at your IEP meeting.” That’s not terrible advice…but do you know what questions to ask at your IEP meeting? (that link will give you a PDF to download and take with you!)

Unfortunately, FAPE is not free. If nothing else, acquiring FAPE for your child will require time–and time is a cost. Free training only gets you so far. And while it’s not fair, that’s the system.

One of the best investments I ever made, not just for my child and his IEP, but my own peace of mind and mental health, was investing in paid workshops and conferences, so that I knew I was on the right path.

Parent training isn’t some extra add-on or bonus service. It exists because the law recognizes that your child’s success doesn’t just happen at school. It has to carry over at home too. And that only works if you actually understand what’s being done, why it’s being done, and how to support it.

A lot of parents walk out of IEP meetings feeling like they’re supposed to just figure it out. They nod along, take the paperwork, and then get home and realize they don’t really know how to help. That’s not a parenting failure. That’s a system problem.

This is one of the ways to fix that.

If you don’t understand your child’s program, their data, or the strategies being used, then parent training is something you should be asking for. Put it in writing, be specific about what you need, and make the team respond. Like anything else in the IEP process, it’s much easier to get to yes when you’re clear, documented, and persistent.

And if you’ve been feeling like you’re missing something or that everyone else seems to understand more than you do, you’re not alone. Most parents are in that exact same spot, they just don’t realize there’s an actual support built into the law that’s meant for them.

Use it.