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Dan Heitzman, Director

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What is the IEP Team?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team is established and must convene following the completion of an initial special education evaluation. The IEP Team comprises the final step in the school's formal process of evaluating and reviewing a student's educational needs in a fair and comprehensive manner, and is responsible for ensuring that an eligible student's learning program meets his/her particular needs.

Parents are integral members of this team, and will be asked to provide insights into helping their child succeed. After reviewing the findings and recommendation of the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team, the IEP Team will make a final determination regarding special education eligibility based on legal guidelines. It will then offer recommendations to address specific educational needs. When a student does qualify for support, an appropriate educational plan involving special education programs and services will be developed as a team and formalized in writing (i.e., the IEP).

An IEP Team meeting is held after the initial evaluation of a referred student is completed. For student's eligible for special education services, such a meeting is also held annually to review progress toward annual goals and objectives written by the IEP Team, and following each re-evaluation of the student's eligibility completed every three years (by law). The IEP Team meeting must be held at a mutually agreed upon time and place. However, if the parents are unable to attend the meeting for any reason, they still may provide input in other ways, such as verbally to other team members and/or in writing. An IEP Team meeting may also occur more often if a change in program is needed.

1. A representative of the student's school district, other than his/her teacher (unless excused from attending by the parent).
2. The student's teacher(s), at least one of whom must be a regular education teacher (unless excused from attending by the parent).
3. A member of the evaluation team who will present the team's written report and recommendation (unless excused from attending by the parent).
4. The student's parents, who by law must be invited to be active participants in the meeting. Parent participation is very important, as they have considerable firsthand knowledge and insights concerning their child and his/her needs. If the IEP Team meeting time is inconvenient, it is the parents' right to request a more agreeable time.
5. The student, if appropriate, and any other participant who may be invited by the parent or school district with prior notice (e.g., tutor, psychologist, advocate, friend). Typically, beginning at 7th grade, students are expected to attend and participate in their own IEP Team meeting. At age 18, the student attends and acts as his/her own representative.

Parents have a number of rights regarding the IEP Team process. These, among others, are listed in the Special Education Parent Handbook with Procedural Safeguards that was received when the evaluation consent form was signed. Some of these rights include the right to:

• be notified before an IEP Team meeting is held, and have the purpose of the meeting explained;
• be invited to the meeting, and involved in any decisions made concerning the student;
• be notified of others who are invited to the IEP Team meeting;
• have the IEP Team meeting scheduled at a mutually convenient time;
• have one or more parent-invited person(s) attend the meeting;
• have the student attend, if appropriate;
• participate in the development of the student's IEP;
• review school records prior to the IEP Team meeting;
• receive a copy of the completed IEP.

*It should be noted that, at age 18, all parental rights are transferred to the student.

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