I have family members who’ve received special education services, so I’m especially careful and intentional about leading student-centered IEPs. I try to ensure that the entire IEP team knows the student well enough to determine an individualized plan for them. An IEP meeting should be a collaborative effort where everyone contributes, as opposed to a 20-page to-do list.
Most important, I put students’ input at the forefront of the conversation. I’ve found there are a number of strategies that highlight student voices, before their IEP meeting as well as during the meeting. In doing so, I’ve received feedback from our district and school administrators, speech-language pathologists, interpreters, nurses, teachers, and parents, all of whom have appreciated the focus and tone of our IEP meetings.
Read about the strategies that this teacher uses to make sure that the student is the center of the IEP and is engaged not only during, but as the IEP is being implemented!