Development of the IEP

The IEP is developed by a multidisciplinary team that includes at least the following people:

• Parents and the child, if appropriate
• Two teachers, one representing general education and one who is involved in special education
• A school district representative with authority to commit resources to the IEP
• The person who assessed the child or someone qualified to explain the assessment results
• Any other individuals invited by the family

Individuals who might be valuable team members are a specialist or therapist who has worked with your child, or a friend or relative who is knowledgeable about special education or who can support you at the meeting. Lanterman’s Peer Support Partners are also able to provide assistance with advocacy and support during the IEP process.

Parents should also consider asking their child’s Regional Center service coordinator to be a team member. Since he or she knows the child and understands the IEP process, he or she can help you prepare for the meeting and accompany you to the meeting to provide advocacy support.

The school district will not allow a child’s service coordinator to attend the IEP meeting unless the child’s parents invite the service coordinator to be at the meeting, so be sure to invite your child’s service coordinator and tell the school that you are doing so. Also, if you do wish for your child’s service coordinator to attend the meeting, be sure to give plenty of notice. Service coordinators schedules fill up quickly and without enough notice, he or she may already have other obligations scheduled.

A list of names for everyone parents invited to the meeting should be provided to the school district. Parents should also sign a release of information to give the team access to medical reports or other documents that will be helpful in development of the IEP.