Student Involvement
Talk to the IEP team about how to include your child’s input, how to have your child attend, and – eventually – how your child can take on some of the leadership of their own IEP meetings. By at least age 16, students should be invited to attend IEP meetings and by age 18, most students will be making decisions about their own IEPs.
Other Meeting Team Members
The IEP team may also include other people with special knowledge of the student or their educational needs such as:
- Professionals who have assessed or provide services to the student
- Staff who are knowledgeable about programs or policies at the school
It is common for some of the school team members to attend only a portion of the IEP team meeting. But this does not apply to the key team members (special education teacher, the school administrator, and if applicable, the general education teacher).
If you believe that a particular team member needs to be present for the entire meeting, then please talk to your case manager in advance.
Families and Their Invited Participants
Parents or caregivers are vital members of the IEP team. They know their child best and can talk about strengths and needs
Parents or caregivers can also invite a support person to help navigate the process or someone who has knowledge of the student and can benefit the IEP team discussion.
Waiver Excusal Forms
Sometimes an IEP team member will not be able to attend the meeting because of unexpected circumstances. Using an excusal form, the school should document when team members are not able to participate. Parents or caregivers can choose to excuse the team member or request that the meeting be rescheduled.