This document outlines tips and best practices for parents attending IEP meetings, highlighting pre-meeting preparation, strategies to enhance collaboration during the meeting, and post-meeting follow-up suggestions. It shares insights from workshop attendees about effective IEP processes and emphasizes the importance of communication and involvement. Additionally, it promotes a service called Exception-ally, which offers tools for tracking student progress and provides a limited-time free trial.

1. Special Needs, Extraordinary Solutions
GA PTA Convention | August 4-5, 2017
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2. Overview
This document was developed in support of a workshop
at the 2017 Georgia PTA Convention Leadership Training.
Included in this document is the following…
• Tips for parents before, during, and after IEP meetings
• Suggested IEP practices from workshop attendees
• Exception-ALLY overview and limited offer
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3. TIPS: BEFORE THE MEETING
ü Conduct pre-meeting research about the IEP process on
websites like exception-ally.com, wrightslaw.com, and
understood.org.
ü Align on the agenda, objectives, and expectations of the
meeting with the school IEP team.
ü Don’t go to meeting alone (take an advocate, friend, or
family member). This person can take notes or participate
depending on their level of expertise.
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4. TIPS: DURING THE MEETING
ü Ask some of the educators from the school IEP team to
sit on your side of the table. This creates a
collaborative atmosphere.
ü Put a picture of your child on the table, which helps all
adults focus on the purpose of the meeting.
ü Don’t sign the IEP at the meeting, unless it has been
presented to you ahead of the meeting date for review.
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5. TIPS: AFTER THE MEETING
ü Read the IEP, maybe even twice, before signing it to
ensure you understand all aspects. This is a LEGAL
document.
ü Schedule meetings throughout the year to check-in on
your child’s progress under the IEP.
Ø Meetings could be scheduled according to the progress
updates agreed upon in the IEP.
Ø Check-in meetings might include only the educators
that work most closely with your child (a sub-group of
the full IEP team) to make scheduling easier. 4

6. WORKSHOP ATTENDEE SUGGESTIONS
QUESTION: What is one thing that you are happy your
school does in the IEP process?
• Use a round table for the IEP meeting, so everyone feels
like part of the team.
• Remain open and helpful in answering parent questions.
• Maintain good communication with parents during the
school year regarding achievements and goals reached.
• Allow me to have my child present in the process and
meetings, as appropriate.
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7. Exception-ALLYSM, Better Than Experts
Pre-Meeting
Preparation
• Deliver action plan
and meeting prep
Post-Meeting
Tracking
• Track student’s progress
and IEP implementation
In-Meeting
Expertise
• Provide real time access
to proprietary data
Ø Builds parents’
confidence before
meeting
Ø Makes one less
thing for parents to
worry about
Ø Puts relevant data
at parents’
fingertips
Key
Features
Key
Benefits
IEP STAGES
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8. For a limited time, receive a 30-day free trial. Just
send an email to info@growexceptionally.com with
the subject “Exception-ALLY 30-day free trial”.
For more information, visit www.Exception-ALLY.com.