This page provides a guideline about how to prepare for specific meetings as part of your child’s assessment process. The website Understood.com has put together a guide for parents new to the process. KidsTogether has also put together a list of Common Mistakes. It is important to take notes at all of your school meetings so that you can recall and reference back when necessary.
This page provides a guideline of what to bring with you to specific meetings as part of your child’s assessment process.
Initial and Re-evaluation meeting
Understand your rights, using resources such as Wrightslaw and Massachusetts state regulations.
After the Meeting
Assess the meeting: Did the people at your Team meeting discuss issues and create goals? Did they work as a group towards consensus? Did you take notes? Contact your Case Manager/Team Chair with any questions.
This page provides a guideline of what to bring with you to specific meetings as part of your child’s assessment process.
Initial and Re-evaluation meeting
Understand your rights, using resources such as Wrightslaw and Massachusetts state regulations.
- Bring your child’s evaluations in a file or notebook. Include both school evaluations and outside evaluations, if you have them.
- Bring a photo of your child (especially if there is a large IEP population in your school.)
- External resource: 10 Defusing Phrases to Use at IEP Meetings
- Before you leave the meeting, ensure that next steps are clearly defined and understood
- A copy of your child’s current IEP (and the previous IEP) for reference.
- Bring your child’s Communication Notebook (or printed out emails).
- Gather up your child’s work samples from both general ed classes and special ed sessions.
- Documents to create for your meeting:
- A list of questions you may have about the evaluations
- Find your child’s lowest scores to review as potential areas of focus
- A list of your concerns
- A list of your child’s concerns (as applicable)
- A list of hopes and dreams for your child. This can be used to create your vision statement
- Revisions to previously drafted goals
- Before you leave the meeting, ensure that next steps are clearly defined and understood
After the Meeting
Assess the meeting: Did the people at your Team meeting discuss issues and create goals? Did they work as a group towards consensus? Did you take notes? Contact your Case Manager/Team Chair with any questions.