Re-Evaluating an IEP

Last April, my son who is in second grade, was evaluated by the school. I found out then that he has a learning disability. The school brought a team together, and an Individual Education Plan was written for him. I have just been notified that there will be a new IEP meeting in March to write the IEP for the next school year. How am I supposed to get ready for this meeting? I felt so unprepared last year. -- Worried
Answer: Relax. Everyone who attends the IEP meeting is a member of your son's team, and all share the responsibility of making sure that he is able to receive an appropriate education. Last year's IEP puts in place all the things that your son needs to enable him to function effectively in the classroom.
The best thing that you can do before the meeting is to reread your son's IEP. Check that the school has put in place everything that they said they would do to help your son. You also want to evaluate if what was put in place is actually helping your son. Does the school need to do more? Is your son making the academic progress outlined in his last IEP? What do your son's report cards and standardized test scores since the last IEP tell you about this?
During the meeting, be sure to ask for an explanation if the team is discussing something that you do not understand. It is the team's responsibility to make sure that you understand what help is being provided for your son and why.
Parents of children with learning disabilities absolutely must learn all they can about learning disabilities and how to help their children. It isn't difficult to do. Here are some great Web sites you can visit: www.ldonline.org, www.ldanatl.org and www.schwablearning.org that have solid information about IEP meetings.