Back to School IEP Issues
Summer is winding down and it’s time to start thinking about back to school IEP issues. Hopefully, the summer slide wasn’t too extreme for your child. If your child received Extended School Year (ESY) services, hopefully, the services were productive and not just school based babysitting.
If your child did experience regression during the summer, it’s important that the start of the new school year is focused on recouping the lost skills. Regardless of when your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) expires, you want to make sure that the goals and objectives are relevant to your child’s current abilities. Below are tips and strategies to ensure that your child will be set to maximize their receipt of special education supports and services.
- Ask for a meeting – Don’t be afraid to ask for a meeting during the first month of school to assess your child’s progress and ensure the goals in their IEP are commensurate with their current abilities.
- Communication – Don’t wait for the school to contact you. Frequent check ins with your child’s teacher will ensure that you don’t miss any necessary updates.
- Check dates – Make sure your child’s most recent educational evaluation and IEP are up to date. The last evaluation shouldn’t be more than 3 years old and the current IEP should be no more than 1 year old.
- Speak with your child – Ask your child what their school day looks like. For example, if your child’s IEP calls for speech pull out 3 times a week, ask your child if this is happening. Your child is often the best resource to use to determine whether an IEP is being appropriately implemented.
- Be mindful of transitions – It isn’t easy to go from summer break to a more structured school day. This is especially true if your child is making one of the larger educational transitions (i.e. from middle school to high school). Students with certain disabilities (i.e. autism) may have a particularly hard time with transitions. Behaviors that interfere with your child’s ability to learning are often tied to inappropriate transition planning and goals. Don’t be afraid to request your school district incorporate transition goals into your child’s IEP. Transition planning is a critical part of a successful school year. It is often the first couple months of the school year that determine the overall succuss of the year.
If you feel as though your child’s IEP is not currently appropriate to meet your child’s needs, or if you feel as though your child may need an IEP, it may be wise to consult with an Education Lawyer. The Education Lawyers at Montgomery law are standing by to review your child’s IEP (for free).
Call now to set up your free consultation with a school attorney today.
215-650-7563 (Pennsylvania) – or –
856-282-5550 (New Jersey)