Effective IEP MeetingsEffective IEP Meetings

Division of Special EducationDivision of Special Education

Approved By Approved By Donnalyn Jaque-Anton,Donnalyn Jaque-Anton,

Associate SuperintendentAssociate SuperintendentFebruary 2005February 2005

Can You Hear Me?Can You Hear Me?If you don’t hear the If you don’t hear the

narration, please stop narration, please stop the presentation and the presentation and adjust your computer adjust your computer settings to increase settings to increase

the volume.the volume.

Who Should View This Training?Who Should View This Training?

School SiteSchool Site AdministratorsAdministrators Administrator DesigneesAdministrator Designees Staff Participating on IEP Teams, Including Staff Participating on IEP Teams, Including

Related Services PersonnelRelated Services Personnel Central OfficeCentral Office

Special Education Support Unit PersonnelSpecial Education Support Unit Personnel Division of Special Education PersonnelDivision of Special Education Personnel

The Training Focus isThe Training Focus is Strategies for Effective IEP Strategies for Effective IEP

Meetings Meetings (Maintaining a Focus on the Child)(Maintaining a Focus on the Child)

The Training FocusThe Training Focus is not is not Completing the IEP DocumentCompleting the IEP Document

PL94-142 / IDEA and LAUSD PolicyPL94-142 / IDEA and LAUSD Policy IEP MeetingsIEP Meetings

Held at Least AnnuallyHeld at Least Annually Required Team MembersRequired Team Members

• Parent(s) of the StudentParent(s) of the Student• General Ed TeacherGeneral Ed Teacher• Special Ed TeacherSpecial Ed Teacher• Administrator or Administrator DesigneeAdministrator or Administrator Designee• Assessor(s) Assessor(s) • Student, as appropriateStudent, as appropriate

A Team is…A Team is…

a small number of people with a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed complementary skills who are committed

to a common purpose, performance goals, to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountablethemselves mutually accountable

Characteristics of Effective IEP Characteristics of Effective IEP TeamsTeams

Effective Teams

Purpose Composition Structure & ContextInteraction

•Mutual Trust•Sense of Relationship•Common Base ofInformation•Flexibility &Responsiveness

•Understanding & Acceptance of Roles andResponsibilities of Team Members•Recognition & Mitigation ofOutsideForces

•Team Member-ship Clearly Defined• Recognition ofIndividual Contributions• Balanced Roles

•Common Identity

•Common Tasks

•Sense of Empowerment

IEP Team TaboosIEP Team Taboos Blaming individuals Blaming individuals Making excuses for shortcomings or Making excuses for shortcomings or

problemsproblems Lack of participationLack of participation ArguingArguing DefensivenessDefensiveness OffensivenessOffensiveness Self AdvocacySelf Advocacy

Before, During and AfterBefore, During and After the IEP Meeting…the IEP Meeting…

Are all Your Ducks in a Row?Are all Your Ducks in a Row?

BeforeBefore DuringDuring AfterAfterSystem ImplementationSystem Implementation

PreparationPreparation

CollaborationCollaboration

CommunicationCommunication

LogisticsLogistics

ParticipationParticipation

FeelingsFeelings

PersonalitiesPersonalities

ConsensusConsensus

Dispute ResolutionDispute Resolution

Follow UpFollow Up

Performance AnalysisPerformance Analysis

BeforeBefore the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Implement a Uniform SystemImplement a Uniform System School-wide ProcessSchool-wide Process Master CalendarMaster Calendar IEP Meeting SchedulingIEP Meeting Scheduling Administrator DesigneesAdministrator Designees

BeforeBefore the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Ensure Assessor PreparationEnsure Assessor Preparation• Welligent Entry of Assessor ReportsWelligent Entry of Assessor Reports

• Contact ParentContact Parent Provide Report Provide Report Explain resultsExplain results

BeforeBefore the IEP Meeting the IEP MeetingFacilitate Collaboration & CommunicationFacilitate Collaboration & Communication Team BuildingTeam Building

• Service ProvidersService Providers General Ed TeacherGeneral Ed Teacher Special Ed TeacherSpecial Ed Teacher Related Services PersonnelRelated Services Personnel

• Psychologist* (*as applicable)Psychologist* (*as applicable)• ParentsParents

Identify ConcernsIdentify Concerns Anticipate problemsAnticipate problems Attempt to addressAttempt to address Develop potential optionsDevelop potential options

BeforeBefore the IEP Meeting the IEP MeetingAddress Logistic ElementsAddress Logistic Elements Date/TimeDate/Time Location of MeetingLocation of Meeting

ParticipantsParticipants SeatingSeating

Roles of ParticipantsRoles of Participants WelligentWelligent

Back-up PlanBack-up Plan

Benefits of Team BuildingBenefits of Team BuildingBeforeBefore the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

ProductivityProductivity Increased commitment to common goalsIncreased commitment to common goals Better decision-makingBetter decision-making Concrete action plansConcrete action plans Improved communicationImproved communication Role clarityRole clarity Improved meetingsImproved meetings Negotiated leadershipNegotiated leadership ““Clearing the air”Clearing the air”

Visual Aides for IEP MeetingsVisual Aides for IEP Meetings

CAUTION: ONLY USE DRY ERASE MARKERS ON THE CHARTS

Present Levels of Performance

Student:________________________________________________________

Performance Area: Goal 1 Achieved?: Y N NA Goal 2 Achieved?: Y N NA Strengths/ Abilities Challenges/ Needs Supports/ Accommodations

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Active & Meaningful Participation Among Active & Meaningful Participation Among Team MembersTeam Members RolesRoles EnvironmentEnvironment AgendaAgenda Ground RulesGround Rules OutcomesOutcomes Present Levels of PerformancePresent Levels of Performance

During the IEP Meeting During the IEP Meeting Present Levels of Performance Present Levels of Performance

(PLP)(PLP) Strengths and Needs of the StudentStrengths and Needs of the Student Focus of the Meeting Focus of the Meeting Provides foundation for FAPEProvides foundation for FAPE Chart PLPChart PLP Present in Bulleted FormatPresent in Bulleted Format

Click below to view forms:Click below to view forms: Present Level of Performance DomainsPresent Level of Performance Domains

and Service Providers and Service Providers

Present Levels of Performance WorkshPresent Levels of Performance Worksheeteet

Present Levels of Performance

Student:________________________________________________________

Performance Area: Goal 1 Achieved?: Y N NA Goal 2 Achieved?: Y N NA Strengths/ Abilities Challenges/ Needs Supports/ Accommodations

During the IEP MeetingDuring the IEP MeetingExample of How the IEP Chair wouldExample of How the IEP Chair wouldAddress the Present Levels of PerformanceAddress the Present Levels of Performance

Whether or Not Met Previous GoalsWhether or Not Met Previous Goals If Not, Reasons WhyIf Not, Reasons Why StrengthsStrengths Additional Team MembersAdditional Team Members Service ProviderService Provider NeedsNeeds

Additional Team MembersAdditional Team Members Service Provider Service Provider Current Supports and AccommodationsCurrent Supports and Accommodations Additional Team MembersAdditional Team Members Service Provider Service Provider

Additional supports that may be implementedAdditional supports that may be implemented

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Feelings are real and must be Feelings are real and must be accepted, acknowledged and accepted, acknowledged and

processed in an organized processed in an organized manner…manner…

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting Effectively deal with various feelings Effectively deal with various feelings

and difficult personalitiesand difficult personalities Stay neutralStay neutral Respect feelingsRespect feelings Be sensitiveBe sensitive Feelings to FactsFeelings to Facts

Combine, condense, define concernsCombine, condense, define concerns Refocus on student needsRefocus on student needs

During During the IEP Meetingthe IEP Meeting

Common ProblemsCommon Problems Excessive TalkingExcessive Talking Non ParticipationNon Participation Side BarsSide Bars Individual DissentIndividual Dissent

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Strategies for Dealing with Challenging Strategies for Dealing with Challenging BehaviorsBehaviors

Remain calm & pleasantRemain calm & pleasant Refrain from raising voiceRefrain from raising voice Avoid arguingAvoid arguing Actively listenActively listen Avoid words with negative connotationsAvoid words with negative connotations Question rather than stateQuestion rather than state Look for areas of agreementLook for areas of agreement

During During the IEP Meetingthe IEP Meeting

ConsensusConsensusWhat is it?What is it? A collective opinionA collective opinion Group of individuals working togetherGroup of individuals working together Open & supportive climateOpen & supportive climate Enabling all participants to influence & Enabling all participants to influence &

support a decisionsupport a decision

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

For Reaching ConsensusFor Reaching Consensus Avoid Avoid

ArguingArguing Conflict reducing proceduresConflict reducing procedures Perception of winners and losersPerception of winners and losers

DuringDuring the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

How Does Consensus Look? How Does Consensus Look?

Each participant:Each participant: understands the decision;understands the decision; has the opportunity to state position has the opportunity to state position

regarding the decision;regarding the decision; consents to the decision and agrees consents to the decision and agrees

to support it.to support it.

Development of the Implementable IEPDevelopment of the Implementable IEP

CollaborationCollaboration CommunicationCommunication PreparationPreparation LogisticsLogistics AgreementAgreement ConsensusConsensus ParticipationParticipation FeelingsFeelings PersonalitiesPersonalities

AfterAfter the IEP Meeting the IEP Meeting

Encourage resolution through the Informal Encourage resolution through the Informal Dispute Resolution ProcessDispute Resolution Process

Confirm Follow Up Actions Confirm Follow Up Actions Analyze the effectiveness of the IEP Analyze the effectiveness of the IEP

Meeting Meeting

The Best IEP Meeting…The Best IEP Meeting…

Team Members don’t remember being led,Team Members don’t remember being led,Participants don’t remember individual Participants don’t remember individual

contributions;contributions;Team Members feel positive about one Team Members feel positive about one

another;another;All participants feel and would say All participants feel and would say

““We did it collectively – we did it ourselves.”We did it collectively – we did it ourselves.”

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