The IEP Golden Hour✨

Alright, you’ve survived the IEP meeting. You went into it prepared, armed with a pre-IEP letter (sent to the team ahead of time 😉) and agenda. You felt ready to tackle the world! Preparing for the IEP meeting ahead of time is critical in creating a thought-out and effective IEP. You took all the right steps, yet you still feel overwhelmed with all the information discussed in the meeting. In comes the IEP Golden Hour. This reflective hour is one of the most powerful moments you have as an advocate for your child’s education. Below is my secret recipe for a successful IEP Golden Hour. 

Acknowledge your feelings and emotions – but not for too long

As a parent, IEP meetings can feel daunting even if you enter them prepared and confident. It’s hard to balance the facts with emotions. I encourage you to spend some time sitting with the discomfort or any feelings brought up during the IEP meeting, but not for too long. You should remember that IEPs are (supposed to be) driven by data. Feelings aren’t data. Try not to stew in your feelings about what should have happened or what a specific team member said. The IEP Golden Hour is about effectively using your time to best advocate for your child’s education. Once you’ve acknowledged and accepted your emotions, it’s time to move on to the facts!

Reflect on specifics from the meeting

IEP meetings can be information overload. Since I know you went into the IEP meeting prepared and with your concerns, I want you to take a moment to reflect on the conversation around those topics. Did the team discuss adding or removing services, accommodations, or supplementary aids? It’s important to write down explicitly what was said by both parties and what was agreed upon. This will help you create a comprehensive list or summary of the discussed data, giving you a clear understanding of the decisions made. 

Your list or summary should include something from each of these categories.

• Services
• Accommodations & Modifications
• Present Levels
• IEP Goals & Objectives

When creating your summary, consider these questions.

• What specifically did the IEP team discuss in each of these categories? 
• What data was used to support decisions being made?
• Were there any disagreements between you and the school members? 
• Were there any promises made to adjust something on the IEP document? 
• Was there a timeline discussed about anything?
• Who is responsible for what?

Create a list of action steps

You took the time to reflect on the meeting and carefully create a list or summary of specific details. Good job! Summarizing the meeting with data at the forefront is a huge accomplishment. You’re starting to move towards being your child’s champion! The next step is to re-work your list into action steps. These action steps will be crucial in the next part of the IEP Golden Hour, drafting the Post-IEP letter. Here is a typical example I encounter. 

The IEP team is discussing a student’s proposed IEP goal. Progress monitoring is a game changer with IEPs. It is truly the best data for parents and school staff to make appropriate IEP changes. The parent has requested that the IEP goal be rewritten for optimal progress monitoring. The IEP team then collaborates and decides on the updated wording. The IEP goal update should be included in your action steps.

Your action step should include specific modifications to the previously listed version. For example, “Update the wording of goal 1 to say “X” instead of “X”. 

Repeat this process for every proposed change that was discussed during the meeting. Remember to be as concise and specific as possible! 

Write a Post-IEP Letter

Here is where we put all our hard work into a tangible and actionable document. Documentation is at the forefront of special education advocacy. I cannot stress this enough! I know it can feel boring and repetitive, but please trust me! The goal is always to resolve issues “in-house” and avoid due process at all costs. Written documentation does this for you in such an easy way! 

Your post-IEP letter should summarize the key events from the meeting (you did this earlier!), include a list of actionable steps, include a statement indicating your anticipation of reviewing the updated documents and Prior Written Notice, and, most importantly, include a thank you section. Along with our goal of staying far away from due process, having a positive relationship with school staff is up there. You and your child will interact with these people frequently, and it’s essential to prioritize collaboration with them. Our public education teachers and staff genuinely have our students’ best interests at heart and are doing their best with the resources provided. 

Here are some critical components of the post-IEP letter

• The parent’s names and contact information
• The student’s name and identification number
• The date
• Addressed to the IEP case manager and team
• A thank you section
• You can request that all written communication be included in the child’s educational record

Want to snag a free post-IEP letter template? Check mine out here! 

Once you’ve finished your post-IEP letter, send it to the IEP team as soon as you can. My favorite way to send written communication to schools is via email. If you feel like the IEP team you are working with is not responsive, a surefire way to ensure they’ve received the document and your request is to send it via certified mail. A word of caution – sending correspondence via certified mail may be perceived as aggressive or combative. Use your discretion as the best way to deliver your letter.

Now, give yourself a pat on the back, a high five, or whatever method of celebration you desire! You did it!

Seek Support

Navigating special education as a parent can feel isolating and confusing. There are a few ways to find support for all aspects of special education, including the emotional side. 

I always encourage families to work with an advocate, regardless of their current situation. IEPs and your child’s needs can change quickly, and having an advocate on your side will ensure peace of mind. Make sure you find an advocate who fits your family’s needs and personality. If you are interested in working with me, contact me here.

COPAA is an amazing organization with an abundance of resources. They also have a comprehensive directory with professionals who can help. Check out the directory here!

Find a local Facebook group! Facebook groups are plentiful; you are bound to find one that meets your needs. 

Each state has a Parent Training and Information Center or PTI. They are not talked about nearly enough and are an excellent resource for families. Here is a PTI directory from CPIR.

If you are in Maryland, our local PTI is Parent’s Place of Maryland.

You’ve done it—navigated the whirlwind of an IEP meeting and embraced the powerful IEP Golden Hour. Remember that each step taken is a stride toward advocating effectively for your child’s educational needs. The strategies outlined will help you and the IEP team craft a great IEP for your child.

I hope you found this blog post helpful and that it clarified how important the IEP Golden Hour truly is! You are one step closer to being your child’s champion!