Parents, so you know, the IEP is negotiable between parents and the school.  You don't have to sit in the meeting and be told what's "best" for your child.   The IEP meeting is designed to be a collaborative process where both parents and school professionals discuss the student’s unique needs, strengths, and the support that will help them succeed. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents are considered equal members of the IEP team, and their input is crucial in determining the goals, accommodations, and services included in the IEP.  However, sometimes parents may not feel this is the case [hint: This is usually because those parents are unprepared for the IEP meeting and not sure how to proceed when they think the IEP isn't going well.  No worries. The IEP Advantage course will help you prepare entirely.].

Parents can ask questions, request changes, and suggest accommodations or modifications. If parents disagree with certain parts of the proposed IEP, they can express their concerns, and the team should work together to find mutually acceptable solutions. Sometimes, compromises can be reached by adjusting goals, revising supports, or trying a service on a trial basis. Parents can call additional IEP meetings if they feel ongoing discussions are needed to arrive at the best plan for their child.

Parents have procedural rights, including requesting mediation or a due process hearing if an agreement isn't reached to ensure the IDEA meets their child’s needs. This legal framework underscores the importance of the IEP as a flexible and individualized document that is open to adjustments based on the child's evolving needs and input from parents.

There have been instances where a parent makes a request and is immediately shut down and told no.  Some schools gatekeep this way.  Here are a few examples of gatekeeping.  [1] We don't do that here. [2] We don't have money to do that here.  [3] We don't have the staff to do that.  [4] There's no way we could add that to the daily schedule.  [5] We wish we had the [insert time, staff, or funding] to do that, but we don't.  [6] We wish we could do that for YOUR child, but if we did, then EVERY parent would expect it, and that just wouldn't work.

When this happens, the school should provide PWN [prior written notice] of their denial. If they don't, please be sure to ask for it. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools must give PWN any time they propose or refuse to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or provision of a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to the child. 

Sometimes, parents walk away from gatekeepers, feeling there is nothing collaborative, equal, or negotiable about that interaction.  Parents need to understand the flow of the IEP meeting, keeping up with their child's IEP and goals throughout the year, how to make requests with the IEP Team, and whom to address.  

​Gain the confidence to advocate for your child with The IEP Advantage — the only course available 24/7 that empowers parents to handle the gatekeeping tactics schools often use. This course walks you through each IEP-eligible disability, helping you understand how your child’s unique needs should be fully supported in school. You’ll gain a complete picture of the services and accommodations your child has a right to receive, so you’re never left wondering or settling for less.