Q: I want to make sure that I invite all the right district team members to my students’ IEPs. How can I be sure I haven’t missed anyone?
A: It can be difficult when the student has many providers. There are a couple of suggestions that we would like to share:
1. Always check the Summary of Services page and invite any service that is listed as direct service or consult. Whether consult or direct, related services providers are required at the meeting.
2. Double check the student’s schedule in PowerSchool—just in case (especially helpful for secondary). Making sure that the correct people are at the meeting is critical for making a full, legal team for the benefit of a student. Because providers service several schools, always give as much notice as possible. Ideally, you will contact all providers immediately after scheduling with the parent 10 days prior,
Q: What do I need to do when the IEP team requests an assessment for an area outside of the three-year re-evaluation process? For instance, a parent requested an OT assessment (or other assessment) and the team agrees to conduct it. Once the assessment is completed, what do we need to do?
A: The first step is to understand that this situation requires a consent for evaluation. After the completion of the assessment, you would hold a meeting where the assessor will review their report and the team will determine eligibility for the particular area/service or potentially continued eligibility for special education. You would then continue to an IEP meeting to amend the IEP with this new information in the PLAAFP, and determine if goals and objectives and/ or program modifications/ accommodations are required. Finish with a Prior Written Notice summarizing the actions to be implemented.
