Questions to Ask at an IEP Meeting

The best IEP meetings aren't the ones where you agree with everything fastest — they're the ones where you understood enough to ask the right question. Here's a starting list, organized by what part of the meeting you're in.

Present Levels & Progress

What specific data supports these present levels of performance?
How does my child's progress compare to where they were at this time last year?
What does "progress" toward this goal actually look like day to day?

Goals

How was this goal chosen, and who decided the target?
How and how often will progress on this goal be measured and reported to me?
What happens if my child isn't on track to meet this goal by the next review?

Services & Placement

Why this frequency and duration of service, and not more?
Who provides each service, and are they certified in that specialty?
Is this the least restrictive environment, and what would placement look like if my child's needs change?

Accommodations & Modifications

Will these accommodations actually be used in every classroom, or just on paper?
How will teachers who aren't in this meeting be told about these accommodations?
Is this an accommodation (same standard, different access) or a modification (different standard) — and does everyone in the room agree which it is?

Before You Leave the Meeting

Can I get a copy of the draft IEP and any evaluation data before I have to sign anything?
What is the timeline for implementing these changes?
Who is my point of contact if something in this plan isn't happening?

These are general starting points. The most useful questions are specific to your child's actual IEP — their goals, services, and history — which a generic list can't know. IEPvocate's meeting-prep tool generates questions from the document you upload.

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