Developing your child's IEP. A parent's guide.

This guide for parents of children with disabilities explains the basics of the special education process focusing on parent participation in the process of developing the child's individualized education program (IEP). The first section reviews the IEP process including what is involved, the IEP meeting, who attends the IEP meeting, the role of different team members in the IEP process, and what happens at the IEP meeting. The second section focuses on 10 components of the IEP document including: present levels of educational performance, annual goals and short-term objectives, services and supports, participation with nondisabled children, and transition services. The following section presents principles for deciding on the child's placement. The final section addresses the specifics of participating in the IEP meeting. It covers what to do before the meeting, what to do during the meeting, what to do if there is disagreement, signing the IEP, and what to do after the IEP meeting. Lists of suggested resources and publishers are attached.  (ERIC)