PACER Center
952-838-9000
Champions for Children with Disabilities
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Parents Helping Parents
PACER is the Minnesota Parent Training and Information Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs.
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Who Is On My Child’s IEP Team?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) calls for a team of individuals, including parents and school personnel, to work together to develop an Individual Educational Program (IEP) for a child who qualifies for special education services.
Because IEP decisions are made by a team rather than by any one individual, it’s important and helpful to understand the role of each member. While each person brings a different set of experiences, concerns, and skills to the table, you can expect that they all share a common goal: enabling the child to succeed in school and in life.
IEP Team Member of the Month:
The Parent*
Long after the last teacher or therapist has disappeared from your child’s life, you will be there to support and encourage your child. Your active participation as a member of his or her IEP team will help to ensure that your child receives the education he or she needs and deserves.
Although parents are equal members on the IEP team, it’s not unusual to feel somewhat intimidated by all the professionals who outnumber you at the meeting. It may be helpful to remember that your role is critically important because of the following factors:
- You are the expert on your child. Your in-depth, ongoing relationship provides you with a wide-angle view of the child. Professionals often see the child through the lens of their particular area of expertise.
- Parents are the only continuous members on a child’s IEP team. You know what has worked and what hasn’t worked over time. You will be the one constant factor through multiple transitions at school and in life. Professionals will change from year to year.
- The parent is the IEP team member who represents and advocates solely for the individual child. School personnel are responsible for many children and must be concerned with meeting all their needs.
- You are the keeper and communicator of high expectations for your child. No one cares about your child’s success as much as you do.
To participate meaningfully and effectively as an IEP team member, parents will want to carry out the following responsibilities:
- Read the notices, reports and documents the school provides. If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. You may need to sign that you agree or disagree with a proposed action. Whenever possible, complete and return forms within requested timelines.
- Learn the basics of special education and the IEP process. Become familiar with student and parent rights and school responsibilities.
- Clearly communicate your family’s goals and concerns for your child. Help set priorities.
- Help your child to actively participate in the IEP process as much as is appropriate. Ask them what is working well for them at school and what help they need. Make sure they have the opportunity to communicate their interests, concerns, strengths, and preferences.
- In meeting, keep the focus on your child.
- Become as informed as possible about your child’s school program. Gather information, ask questions and when possible, observe.
- Listen to and consider other team member’s input. The strength of a team is the different perspectives each member brings.
- Monitor your child’s progress on IEP goals and in the general curriculum.
- Provide feedback to the team. Alert the team to lack of progress or other concerns. Celebrate successes and let people know when they are doing a good job. Everyone likes to be on a winning team.
* - “Parent” means a parent, guardian or surrogate parent.
PACER's site offers many PDF files for download, which require