1 Running meetings is not for the faint of heart… IEP Meeting Essentials! ME A 1.1 ME A 1.3 These Documents may be reproduced, if reproduced in their entirety

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Running meetings is not for the faint of heart…

IEP Meeting Essentials!

ME A 1.1

ME A 1.3 These Documents may be reproduced, if reproduced in their entirety with acknowledgment to the MDE.

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Think of it as a fine adventure to an unknown land with you leading the way.

The sturdier and more visible the boat you build,the safer the trip will be

and the greater the odds of a successful landing…


the goal is

a safe

journey…

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the goal is

a safe

journey… NEGOTIATION puts things on the table

MANIPULATION keeps things off the table and hidden from others*

*Dick Sullivan, Ph.D.

As you make your crossing keep everything open and visible. No hidden agendas. No manipulation of others. We all work together, under your leadership,

to navigate safely.

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Identify and use all the helpyou can…

Be PURPOSEFUL Make a PLAN Care for your PARTICIPANTS Follow the IEP PROCESS Use a PARKING LOT


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Be PURPOSEFUL

Know what you are doing and why you are doing it. A meeting is not a group of people chatting about something…


PurposefulME H 1

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A meeting has many purposes, and hidden agendas can sink a legitimate purpose.

Identify all areas of purpose and wisely choose when to determine a purpose is better served

at another time and place.

Remember: the goal is a safe journey…


Purposeful

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When and Why to use written

NOTICE OF A TEAM MEETING

WHENAny time an IEP Team meeting is held for the

purpose of making decisions regarding the educational plan.

WHYTo clearly indicate the Purpose of the meeting.To provide documentation of due process

notice requirements.

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don’t ignore the elephants in the room!

Nothing can push a meeting off course like a hidden agenda…


Purposeful

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Be sure you can answer all ofthese questions:

What is an IEP? What do the initials

stand for? Why should I care? How long does an IEP

last? What weight does it have?


PurposefulME H 2

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Why a meeting?Why doesn’t someone just write up the

information?


What’s the relationship between the meeting and how the student is taught?

Purposeful

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Be PLANFUL

A meeting with a plan – any plan – is better than a meeting without a plan. The plan is like the structure of a boat; it keeps things from falling apart.


Planful

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Determine the design of your meetingPurposeOutcomesGround RulesAgenda

Decide what facilitator tools you want to useRecorderTime KeeperParking Lot

Reserve a room that can accommodate your planGather necessary supplies


PlanfulME H 3

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Purpose (Long Term)A statement of why we hold this

particular meetingExample

To develop a written individualized education plan (IEP) for the student that provides access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) through special education services.

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Outcome (Short Term)What do we want to achieve todayDescribe resultsWhat particular results, expressed as outcomes,

are we intending to produce here and now.Examples

Determine the needs, appropriate educational goals, and services to be addressed during the next year.

Determine if the behavior resulting in disciplinary action is a manifestation of the student’s disability.

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Ground RulesA set of rules to define parameters of

participation in the meetingA set of agreements of how we will operate

togetherExamples

Communicate honestly and openlyBe fully presentNo side conversationsContribute without dominatingBe open to other viewpointsBegin and end on timeTreat each other respectfullyStay focused on stated outcomes

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AgendaUse standard district format

ISD #728 Initial or Annual IEP Team Meeting

Group: IEP Team Date: Time:

Convener: Facilitator: Location:

PURPOSE: To develop a written individualized education plan (IEP) for the student that provides access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) through special education services.

OUTCOMES AND DECISION METHODS: 1. . 2. 3.

GROUND RULES: 1. Communicate honestly and openly 2. Be fully present 3. No side conversations 4. Contribute without dominating 5. Be open to other viewpoints 6. Begin and end on time 7. Treat each other respectfully 8. Stay focused on stated outcomes

AGENDA: 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Review purpose, outcomes and ground rules 3. Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance

a. Strengths b. Data regarding how the student is performing in the home, classroom and community c. Description of how the disability affects the student’s progress in the general curriculum d. Evaluation data from, parent reports, progress reports, test results e. Needs

4. Create measurable annual goals and objectives; determine how the goals will be measured 5. Services

a. Direct and Indirect services; supplementary aids and services b. Adaptations c. Minutes per session, frequency of services, start and end date of service d. Who is responsible for services and where will services be provided (LRE)

6. Frequency and method of progress reporting to parents 7. Participation in state and district testing 8. Extended School Year 9. Other items as needed

a. Transfer of rights, graduation planning, transition planning b. Behavior interventions, assistive technology, special needs due to hearing or visual

impairments 10. Third Party Billing documentation (Case Manager and Parent)

ACTION by Whom CONDITIONS OF SATISFACTION by When

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What role do I have? What do I need to

know to fulfill my role obligations?

What does everyone need/expect from me?


What are the roles for EVERYONE?

What is everyone else’s role?

How do they relate to me? Should I be adding my

input to someone else’s input?

Planful

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What is the parent’s role? To portray the kid-ness of the

student? To help the team understand the

family values and long-range goals?

To tell the school personnel how they can support the parent’s program?

To learn how to support the school’s program?


PlanfulME H 4

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Anyone else?

Without a role, they don’t belong at the meeting…


Planful

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What are the timelines for EVERYTHING?

The whole meetingEach agenda itemSending the IEP to the

ParentImplementing the IEPMaking a new IEP


Planful

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You may wish to give out question sheets which will allow all participants to put their thoughts in writing before the meeting. One way to quickly summarize these thoughts is by brainstorming with the participants.


PlanfulME H 5-8

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Care for your PARTICIPANTS

Caring for your participants can be a balancing act. It’s counter-intuitive, but you keep yourself safe by sharing your power and keeping them safe.


Participants

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You need someone to run the meeting. This doesn’t have to be you.

Determine the type of meeting you want to run.This may – or may not – be a good role for the

administrator.How about a student-run meeting?What is the IEP manager’s role if someone else

runs the meeting?


Participants

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There may be circumstances (due process concerns) when you will need a recorder or note-taker?

Determine prior to the meeting who will be the recorder.

You? Someone else?


Participants

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Who is the timekeeper?

You?Someone else?

Who?Why?

How do you want the timekeeping to work?


Participants

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Who is responsible for drafting the IEP?

When & how will it be distributed?

Who will clarify any questions the parent has after receiving the IEP?


Participants

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What the bejeebies IS a parking lot???

Why does it warrant its own discussion???


Parking Lots

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What might go in the parking lot?

Problems at home.

A service when discussing present levels.

Dislike of a teacher.

An accommodation when discussing needs.


Parking Lots

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A parking lot means:

I hear you.

This is important.

This won’t be forgotten, and…we’re not going

to discuss this right now.


Parking Lots

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And what is the conclusion

of the

matter?

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PlanfulPurposeful ParticipantsParking LotsProcess