As a parent, you want to know how your child is doing in school. There are many ways you can find information to help you understand how they are improving and where they need more help.

Watch your child

You know your child best. The changes you notice over time will help you understand your child’s strengths and challenges.

Special education evaluation

Students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are reevaluated at least once every three years. You can compare evaluation reports to see what has changed.

Annual IEP goals

You should receive progress reports from your child’s school showing how they are meeting the annual goals listed in their IEP. The IEP will say how often you will get the progress reports. You can use this information to see if your child is on track to meet their goals by the end of the year. 

IEP review

The IEP team reviews your child’s IEP every year. This is when you and the other team members can decide if it needs to be changed. One important section to review is called the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance. It describes how your child is doing educationally, socially, and physically. You can compare these levels year-to-year to see what has changed. Then you and the team can update the rest of the IEP based on your child’s current strengths and needs.

Classroom information

Information from your child’s regular education teachers, like daily work, test scores, and report cards, all provide helpful information. You can receive more information from teachers by attending conferences, emailing the teacher, or requesting a meeting.

District and state tests

Students with disabilities can take the same district and state tests as students without disabilities. Some examples are MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) and MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments). Some students with cognitive disabilities take other tests, such as the MTAS (Minnesota Test of Academic Skills) or Alt MCA (Alternate MCA).

Reports from outside the school

Your child may receive help outside of school from someone like a tutor or therapist. These professionals can tell you about changes they have seen in your child or may provide written reports.

What if I think my child needs more help?

If you are worried that your child is not learning what they should, you can request an IEP meeting to discuss your concerns. You do not need to wait until the yearly review.