Opening An IEP Meeting

The way you open an IEP meeting can impact the level of effective communication and collaboration you achieve. Greet members with a smile and handshake upon entry. Begin each meeting with introductions and a statement regarding the purpose of the IEP meeting (e.g., annual review, special review, reevaluation eligibility review).

An example of an opening statement..."Good Afternoon and welcome. We are meeting today to review Mickey's IEP and to talk about whether he is making progress toward his goals and if he has any needs that are not being met. It is our job to work together to determine any changes that need to be made to his IEP. Input from every member is important and must be considered before we can make changes. We all want what is best for Mickey."
Agendas are very helpful for keeping teams on track. If a parent brings up a discussion point that has no relevance to the meeting, take a note on the matter and assure them their concern is important. Offer to set up a time after the meeting to talk about it or state that you will pass the concern on the the appropropriate party (e.g., administration).
If you are expecting the meeting to be contentious, it may be a good idea to state some ground rules as part of the introduction. Examples of ground rules include:

• Only one person may speak at at time
• Statements should not be made personal or taken personnally
• Every person has the right to be heard
• Civility must be maintained

Conducting an effective IEP meeting will be easier when you set the stage for effective communication.