I don’t want you to dread your parent teacher conferences. I really don’t. I get it–as both a seasoned special education advocate, and an IEP parent myself, I get it. It’s not always fun or informative–dreading every single interaction that you have with the school.
When you have contentious and adversarial IEP meetings, or your 504 isn’t being followed, it’s stressful. It makes complete sense that you wouldn’t want to go to a parent teacher conference, because we remember how we feel going home from IEP meetings.
But, preparation is key. I have another article, as I have split this topic into two blog posts. Here is the other one: How to Prepare for Your Parent-Teacher Conference when you have an IEP.
That has general prep tips, and questions to ask. This one digs deeper with the questions to ask and provides you with a free PDF of questions to ask at your parent teacher conference. So, you can just print it and go!
We’re coming up on Parent-Teacher Conferences, and if you’re a parent of a child with an IEP or 504 plan, it’s time to get your game face on. And by game face, I mean prepared. Like, “I have my questions lined up, and I’m ready to go” prepared. Because let’s face it, navigating these meetings can feel like prepping for a cross-examination. (Okay, maybe not quite that intense, but you get it.)
The trick to these conferences? Asking the right questions. You want to dig into how things are really going for your child. This isn’t just a sit-and-listen situation. It’s time to get some real answers.
Questions to Ask at Your Parent-Teacher Conference
Adjust as appropriate for your specific situation, especially if you have a 504 instead of an IEP.
- What progress has my child made toward (a specific IEP goal or objective)?
- How is their progress being tracked? Can I see the data?
- Are there any goals that you are feeling are not appropriate, now that we are 3 months into the year?
- Are there any strategies you would suggest adding to support them with the challenging goals?
- Is my child’s behavior or focus affecting their learning? How is that being addressed?
- How are accommodations being used in the classroom?
- Can you walk me through a typical day for my child?
- Are there any concerns about their social interactions with peers? Does he/she have friends?
- What should I be doing at home to support their progress?
- Have there been any changes in their attitude towards school or learning?
- Is my child receiving their related services as listed in the IEP (OT, PT, Speech, etc.)? How is that going?
- Are the accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 plan enough, or do you see areas where we need to make changes?
- How is my child being supported during less structured times like lunch or recess?
- Are there any extracurricular activities or programs that could benefit my child?
- What’s one thing my child does well that you wish you could see more of?
- Do you feel my child is being challenged enough academically?
- How are you managing my child’s sensory needs (if applicable)?
- Are there upcoming classroom changes (e.g., new units, projects) that might present challenges for my child?
- Is the IEP or 504 plan being followed consistently by all teachers and staff?
- What can we improve or adjust in the IEP/504 to ensure my child continues making progress?
- How are his/her grades and what do those grades measure (because remember, grades are subjective, not objective!)
- Do you have any recent standardized test scores (MAPS, etc.)?
- Do you have any behavior or incident reports?
- Can you show me some examples of work (in area of concern)?
- In the past 90 days, do you feel that the (academic, social, behavior) performance is getting better, worse, or staying the same?
- Talk to your child beforehand, see if they have any questions they want you to ask.
- Ask the teacher if they have any questions for you, about your child.
- Do you feel this is the right placement for my child?
Boom. Armed and ready. Grab this list, take notes, and don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions. The goal is to make sure your child is getting what they need—and trust me, if you don’t ask, you might not find out.
Oh, and if you’re thinking, “Wait, can I just print this and go?”—yes, absolutely! I’m turning this into a handy-dandy PDF you can download and take to your meeting. Because, let’s be real, your brain is juggling a lot these days, and having a sheet to pull from is clutch.
Good luck at the conference—you’ve got this.
P.S. Remember: No question is too small or too big. These meetings are your chance to make sure your child’s needs are being met. Ask away!
