How often should I review my child's IEP?

How would you feel if your place of employment required you to wait an entire year to determine what you were “doing well," your “areas for improvement," and whether?you would be advancing or staying at the same job level?

With this example in mind, think about your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).?One of my clients?recently shared with me that she had not received any educational progress information from her child's IEP team in over two years. The school explained to her that "staffing issues" were the problem. Not only is this unacceptable, it is also against the law.

Under Section 1414 (d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the IEP team—which includes the child's parents/guardians, teachers, and other school staff—is required to review and, if necessary, revise the IEP at least once a year. This annual review is an important opportunity for the team to discuss the?child's progress, identify any areas of concern, and make any necessary adjustments to the IEP. However,?sometimes an annual review is not enough.

The needs of children with disabilities can change over time—and can change quickly. It?is important to regularly review and revise their IEPs to ensure that they are meeting the child's?current?needs and goals.?As we enter 2023, now is a good time to check-in with your child's IEP team?and assess their progress to ensure that the progress your child is making is enough to help them achieve their IEP goals by the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

To do this, first?locate your child’s IEP folder and check the information you are receiving from your child’s IEP team.?Section?300.347(a)(7) Part B of IDEA requires that you are?to be regularly informed about the educational progress of your child. This information?should be delivered as regularly?as parents of non-disabled children are informed about their child’s progress. The information provided to you should include:

• How your child’s progress will be measured;
• Your child's progress?toward their annual goals; and
• The extent to which that progress is sufficient to enable your child?to achieve the goals by the end of the year.??

If you are not receiving this information or find that your child's progress is not as it should be, initiate a meeting?with your child's IEP team and discuss:

1. Revisions that need to be implemented to ensure that your child’s annual goals can be achieved;
2. Possible causes for this lack of progress; and/or
3. Whether?additional supports are needed (and which ones).

Now is the time to assess your child's IEP. Regularly reviewing and revising IEPs is crucial for ensuring that your child is receiving?the support and accommodations they need to succeed in their educational endeavors. By working together, your child's?IEP team can ensure that your child's unique needs are being met and that they are making progress towards their goals.?

If you're feeling overwhelmed or do not know where to begin, I?can?help you navigate the IEP process and empower your child with the skills to succeed.?Send me a message, and we can help your child gain the academic skills to prepare?them to lead a productive, independent, and economically self-sufficient adult life to the maximum extent possible.