Define when a meeting is an IEP and when it is not?

Question

What about a meeting where the administrator, general education teacher, special education teacher, language and speech specialist, occupational therapist, nurse, and adaptive PE teacher meet without either parent?

What about a meeting where the administrator, a parent, special education teacher, language and speech specialist, occupational therapist, nurse, and adaptive PE teacher meet without a general education teacher?

What about a meeting where the administrator, a parent, general education teacher, language and speech specialist, occupational therapist, nurse, and adaptive PE teacher meet without a special education education teacher?

Also, what is the special education teacher (as assigned case carrier) is not informed of such a meeting held?

Answer 1

Elements required by IDEIA 2004 to included in an IEP docment are:



* The child's present levels of academic and functional performance

* Measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals

* How the child's progress toward meeting the annual goals are to be measured and reported to the parents

* Special education services, related services, and supplementary aids to be provided to the child

* Schedule of services to be provided, including when the services are to begin, the frequency, duration and location for the provision of services

* Program modifications or supports provided to school personnel on behalf of the child

* Explanation of any time the child will not participate along with nondisabled children

* Accommodations to be provided during state and district assessments that are necessary to the measuring child's academic and functional performance

* Additionally, by age 16, a statement of post-secondary goals and a plan for providing what the student needs to make a successful transition is required (a "transitional plan" containing details about post-high-school transitions).

* IEPs also include other pertinent information found necessary by the team, such as a health plan or a behavior plan for some students.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individualized_Education_Program)



Any meeting in which a significant amount of these details is discussed would, therefore, by definition, be an IEP meeting. Non-IEP meetings, such as parent conferences or back-to-school night meetings are more generic in nature, and may involve the reporting of grades and sharing of information between a teacher or other school representative and a parent.



However, when any singular detail is determined such as which school or classroom to change the student to, what goals to change, what new goals to consider implementing, then any such meeting can arguably be considered an IEP meeting under the law since decisions were made and services changed or agreed to be changed by those present. Any such meeting held in the absence of and without the prior knowledge and consent of the teacher and the parent is patently illegal. It does not matter if it is called something other than an IEP meeting. If it conducts the general purposes of an IEP meeting, then it is an IEP meeting.



Another indicator of dangerous practices would be meetings held where many stakeholders are present, without the knowledge of an individual special education teacher or parents, especially if the other is present.

Answer 2

If the parents were given notice of the meeting and gave consent to proceed without attending it is still an IEP meeting. Also, if the parents were given notice, but did not respond, the school can make "adequate attempts" to contact the parents and still hold the IEP meeting without them, but they must be given copies of the minutes/paperwork.



An IEP meeting can happen without the general education teacher, but only if they provide a written statement.



An IEP meeting cannot be held without a special education teacher if the child meets with one on a regular basis(there are some circumstances where special services needed are only nursing, in which case you wouldn't need a special ed teacher).



If the child meets with a special ed teacher on a regular basis, there is no reason the teacher shouldn't know....this is not an IEP meeting.

Answer 3

At my school, that would be what we call a SAT meeting (Student Assistance Team). In our state, we are required to have this meeting before the student can be tested to see if they need an IEP or not. Special educators are not always involved because ANY teacher can be the head of the SAT committee and conduct the meetings. Parents are notified that there will be a meeting, but they are not required to attend for the meeting to actually take place. If you still have questions, by all means, go to the school and ask. It's your right to know.

Answer 4

All of your scenarios are NOT official IEP meetings.



For an official IEP meeting, the school has to give the parent an IEP meeting notice that states time, date, purpose and people in attendance at least 10 days before date of meeting.



The parent has to be in attendance.

Answer 5

By law they have to send you an Invitation to an IEP meeting, if they do not they it is not an IEP meeting.