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Minnesota State Bar Association
Continuing Legal Education
16TH ANNUAL SCHOOL LAW CONFERENCE
November 2, 2007
Minneapolis, Minnesota
IEP Meeting Procedures Under the New IDEA
Peter A. Martin
Knutson, Flynn & Deans, P.A.
IEP MEETINGS UNDER THE NEW IDEA
1. WHO HAS TO BE AT AN IEP MEETING?
The basic membership of the IEP team consists of:
a. Parent(s). Meetings can be held without the parent, but it is preferable to have
a parent or both parents present. Meetings should be held without parents only
if they cannot be persuaded to attend.
b. Regular Education Teacher. Not less than one regular education teacher of the
child (if the child is or may be participating in the regular education
environment).
c. Special Education Teacher or “Provider” of Related Services. Not less than
one special education teacher of the child or, where appropriate, not less than
one special education provider of the child. Ordinarily, a “provider” would be
appropriate if the only special education service received is a related service,
such as speech therapy. Under those circumstances, the speech therapist could
serve as the “special education provider” in lieu of the special education
teacher.
d. Representative of a Public Agency. A representative of the school district who
(1) is qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, special education;
(2) is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum; and (3) is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the school district. The
school district may designate a member of the IEP team to also act as the
school district’s representative, if such person satisfies the above criteria.
However, in Minnesota, the child’s teacher cannot act as the representative.
See Minn. R. 3525.2810, subp 1B(4).
e. Evaluation Interpreter. Someone who can interpret the instructional
implications of the evaluation results. Like the representative of the public
agency, this person can also serve in more than one capacity.
f. Student, If Appropriate. Sometimes the student must be present, such as when
transition services are being discussed. Also, the student must be invited if the
student is an adult. If the child does not attend, the school district must take
other steps to ensure that the child’s preferences and interests are considered.
g. Others Who Have Knowledge or Special Expertise Regarding the Child, at the
Discretion of the School or Parent. Under Minnesota law, the school district
has an affirmative duty to notify the parents of their right to bring anyone of
their choosing to accompany them to the meeting.
See Minn. R. 3525.0700.
See 34 C.F.R. § 300.321; Minn. R. 3525.2810, subp.1 (B).
2. WHO ELSE MIGHT BE INVITED TO AN IEP MEETING?
a. Cultural Liaison. A cultural liaison (i.e., a person who is of the same racial,
cultural, socio-economic or linguistic background as the pupil or, if not
available, someone who has knowledge of these things). See Minn.
R. 3525.0210, subp. 10.
b. Case Manager. The case manager is responsible to coordinate delivery of
special education services in the pupil’s IEP and to serve as the primary
contact for the parent. See Minn. R. 3525.0550.
c. Others. Where appropriate, other education personnel, physicians, medical
health and human services providers, when the student is receiving, or is likely
to receive, services from two or more public agencies, of which one is the
public school, pursuant to a Individual Interagency Intervention Plan (IIIP).
See Minn. Stat. §§ 125A.027, subd. 4; 125A.29(a).
d. Private School Representatives. Where the student is a “private school child
with a disability” who is receiving services pursuant to a service plan,
consultations must be held with appropriate representatives of the student’s
private school. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.137(c)(2).
e. Transition Services. To the extent appropriate, with the consent of the parents
or adult child, when discussing transition services, the school district must
invite a representative of any participating agency that is likely to be
responsible for providing or paying for transition services. 34 C.F.R.§ 300.321(b)(3).
f. Autism Determinations. The team determining eligibility and educational
programming must include at least one professional with experience and expertise
in the area of ASD due to the complexity of this disability and the specialized
intervention methods. The team must include a school professional knowledgeable
of the range of possible special education eligibility criteria. Minn. R. 3525.1325,
subp. 4.
g. Initial Meeting for Child Previously Served Under Part C. The Part C service
coordinator or other representative of the Part C system must participate in the initial
IEP team meeting for a child previously served under Part C of the IDEA. 34 C.F.R.
§ 300.321(f)
3. WHO SHOULD BE THE REGULAR EDUCATION TEACHER AT THE
MEETING?
The IDEA regulations state: “The regular education teacher who serves as a member
of a child’s IEP team should be a teacher who is, or may be, responsible for
implementing a portion of the IEP, so that the teacher can participate in discussions
about how best to instruct the child.” See 71 Fed. Reg. 46675 (August 14, 2006).
4. WHAT IF THE CHILD HAS MORE THAN ONE REGULAR EDUCATION
TEACHER?
The IDEA regulations state: “If the child has more than one regular education teacher responsible for carrying out a portion of the IEP, the LEA may designate which teacher or teachers will serve as IEP team member(s), taking into account the best
interests of the child. Id.
5. WHAT IF THE CHILD IS IN PRESCHOOL? MUST A REGULAR
EDUCATION TEACHER STILL ATTEND THE MEETING?
The comments to the 1999 regulations provide some guidance. If a school district
provides “regular education” preschool services to nondisabled children, then the
requirement to have a regular education teacher at the IEP meeting applies, as it does
in the case of older children with disabilities. If a school district makes kindergarten
available to nondisabled children, then a regular education kindergarten teacher could
appropriately be the regular education teacher who would be a member of the IEP
team and, as appropriate, participate in IEP meetings for a kindergarten-aged child
who is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment. If a school
district does not provide regular preschool education services to nondisabled children,
the district could designate an individual who, under State standards, is qualified to
serve nondisabled children of the same age. See Appendix A, Question No. 3
(March 12, 1999).
6. WHAT IF THE STUDENT DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE REGULAR
EDUCATION SETTING? MUST WE INCLUDE A REGULAR EDUCATION
TEACHER?
The comments to the 1999 IDEA regulations state: “It is expected that the
circumstances will be rare in which a regular education teacher would not be required
to be a member of the child’s IEP team. However, there may be situations in which
a child is placed in a separate school and participates only in meals, recess periods,
transportation and extracurricular activities with nondisabled children and is not
otherwise participating in the regular education environment, and no change in that
degree of participation is anticipated during the next 12 months. In these instances,
since there would be no current or anticipated regular education teacher for a child
during the period of the IEP, it would not be necessary for a regular education
teacher to be a member of the child’s IEP team.” See 64 Fed. Reg. 12583
(March 12, 1999).
7. CAN A MEMBER OF THE IEP TEAM BE EXCUSED FROM ATTENDING
AN IEP TEAM MEETING IF THAT MEMBER’S AREA OF CONCERN IS
NOT BEING ADDRESSED AT THE MEETING?
Yes. Any school member of the IEP team is not be required to attend an IEP
meeting, in whole or in part, if the parent of a child with a disability and the school
district agree that the attendance of such member is not necessary because the
member’s area of the curriculum or related services is not being modified or
discussed in the meeting. The parent’s agreement must be in writing. 34 C.F.R.§ 300.321(e).
8. CAN A MEMBER OF THE IEP TEAM BE EXCUSED FROM ATTENDING
AN IEP TEAM MEETING IF THE MEMBER’S AREA OF CONCERN WILL
BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING?
Yes. A member of the IEP Team may be excused from attending an IEP meeting,
in whole or in part, when the meeting involves a modification to or discussion of the
member’s area of the curriculum or related services, if—
a. the parent and the school district consent in writing to the excusal; and
b. the member submits, in writing to the parent and the IEP Team, input into
the development of the IEP prior to the meeting. Id.
9. SHOULD ALL OF THE TEACHERS HAVE A COPY OF THE STUDENT’S
IEP?
34 C.F.R. § 300.323(d) makes no reference to the word “copy,” but states:
Each public agency must ensure that -
The child’s IEP is accessible to each regular education teacher, special
education teacher, related service provider, and other service provider
who is responsible for its implementation; and
Each teacher and provider described in [the preceding paragraph] is informed of -
His or her specific responsibilities related to implementing the
child’s IEP; and
The specific accommodations, modifications, and supports that
must be provided for the child in accordance with the IEP.
10. WHAT TYPE OF IEP MEETING NOTICE IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE?
According to 34 C.F.R. § 300.322, the notice of the meeting must be given “early
enough to ensure that [the parents] will have an opportunity to attend.” The notice
must inform the parent of the purpose, time and location of the meeting and who will
be in attendance. It must also inform the parent of their right to bring outsiders who
have special knowledge or expertise to the meeting and of the requirement that the
Part C service coordinator or other representative of the Part C system participate in
the initial IEP team meeting for a child previously served under Part C of the IDEA.
11. MUST ALL IEP TEAM MEETING NOTICES BE IN WRITING?
The IDEA does not require that notices be in writing. See Letter of Clarification (MDCFL December 19, 2001) (notice of IEP meeting may be verbal or written).
However, written notices will help your school district’s lawyer sleep better.
12. WHAT SHOULD THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DO WHEN THE PARENTS
WANT TO BRING SOMEONE TO THE MEETING?
Parents are entitled to bring people to the meeting to assist them. However, it would
be prudent for the school district to obtain a written release from the parents
permitting the release of confidential information. Obviously, the parents will have
no objection to the release, since they have brought the individual to the meeting.
However, consent for release of confidential information must be given in writing, so
bring your release form.
13. CAN PARENTS BRING ANYONE TO THE IEP MEETING?
For the most part, yes. The IDEA regulations provide that parents can bring “other
individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child. . . .” See 34 C.F.R. § 300.321(a)(6). The determination of the knowledge or special expertise
of any individual shall be made by the party who invited the individual to be a
member of the IEP team. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.321(c).
14. CAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ASK THE PARENTS TO INFORM
SOMEONE FROM THE DISTRICT IF THEY PLAN TO BRING OTHER
PEOPLE TO THE MEETING?
Yes. The former IDEA regulations state: “It also may be appropriate for the agency
to ask the parents to inform the agency of any individuals the parents will be bringing
to the meeting. The parents are encouraged to let the agency know who they intend
to bring. Such cooperation can facilitate arrangements for the meeting and help
ensure a productive, child-centered meeting.” See Appendix A, Question No. 7
(March 12, 1999).
15. IF THE PARENTS REQUEST AN IEP MEETING, ARE THEY REQUIRED
TO TELL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT THE MEETING IS ABOUT?
Yes. School district personnel will not be prepared for the meeting if the staff does
not know what the meeting is about. Bear in mind that this does not mean the school
should insist on written notice or a great deal of specificity. Typically, the school
district will know what the meeting is, or should be, about.
16. ARE PARENTS REQUIRED TO TELL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO
THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE IEP MEETING?
No. Parents have no legal duty to so inform school district personnel.
17. ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS REQUIRED TO INFORM PARENTS WHO
WILL BE AT THE MEETING?
Yes. The IDEA regulations require that notice to parents must indicate “who will be
in attendance.” See 34 C.F.R. § 300.345(b)(1).
18. WHAT IF THE PARENTS SHOW UP AT THE MEETING WITH A
LAWYER? CAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT RECESS THE MEETING
UNTIL ITS LAWYER CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING?
Comments to the 1999 version of the IDEA regulations “discouraged” parents and
schools from bringing lawyers to IEP meetings. However, the practice is not
prohibited. If the parent’s attorney shows up unexpectedly, recess the meeting and
contact your legal counsel. In most, if not all, cases, you will want to reschedule the
meeting so that your attorney can also be present.
19. WHAT IF THE PARENT WANTS THE IEP MEETING TO BE HELD
IMMEDIATELY?
The IEP team meeting is supposed to occur at a “mutually agreed on time and place.”
34 C.F.R. § 300.322(a)(2). If the school district is not ready, do not hold the meeting.
A parental request for an IEP team meeting should not be delayed unreasonably long.
However, it should not have to be held “right now.”
20. CAN PARENTS DEMAND THAT THE IEP MEETING BE HELD IN THE
EVENING AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY IS OVER?
The school district must take steps to ensure that one or both parents are present at
each IEP meeting or are afforded an opportunity to participate. The district must also
notify the parents of the meeting early enough to ensure that they will have an
opportunity to attend and must schedule the meeting at a mutually agreeable time and
place. Thus, the school district should make reasonable and good faith efforts to
schedule a meeting when everyone can get together.
If people are willing to meet in the evening, great! However, the IDEA does not require the school district to convene an IEP meeting at a time that is only convenient to the parents. See Letter to Anonymous, 18 IDELR 1303 (OSEP 1992) (the IDEA
regulations do not preclude a school district from considering its own scheduling
needs); see also West Orange Bd. of Educ., 34 IDELR 247 (SEA NJ 2001) (a parent acted unreasonably by insisting that all IEP meetings for his son take place at his
residence during the evening).
21. IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DECIDES TO BRING OUTSIDE PEOPLE IN
TO ATTEND AN IEP MEETING, IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRED
TO OBTAIN PARENTAL CONSENT FOR THEM TO BE PRESENT?
For the most part, no. Under FERPA, schools are authorized to release information
without parental consent to “other school officials, including teachers, within the
agency or institution whom the agency or institution is determined to have legitimate
educational interest.” See 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(1). Note: Make sure your school
board policy broadly defines “other school officials.”
22. ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CANNOT HAVE
ATTEND AN IEP MEETING WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT?
Yes. The school district cannot bring to an IEP meeting a person who is not a “school
official” or does not have a “legitimate educational interest” without obtaining
parental consent. Additionally, the people invited to the meeting must have “special
knowledge or expertise” regarding the child.
23. DO PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN SCHOOL
DISTRICT PERSONNEL FROM PARTICIPATING ON THE IEP TEAM?
No. If the school district has invited “school officials” with a “legitimate education
interest” in the student and the school has notified the parent that such persons will
be attending the meeting, the parent cannot exclude the individual from attending.
24. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PARENT DOES NOT ATTEND AN IEP
MEETING?
According to 34 C.F.R. § 300.322, the school district must give proper notice to the
parents of the IEP meeting. Proper notice: (1) informs the parent of the purpose, time
and location of the meeting and who will be in attendance; (2) is given “early enough
to ensure that they will have an opportunity to attend”; and (3) informs the parents of
the right to bring other people to the meeting. The school district must schedule the
meeting at a mutually agreeable time and place. If neither parent can attend, the
school “must use other methods to ensure parent participation, including individual
or conference telephone calls” consistent with 34 C.F.R. § 300.328. Id.
If the school district cannot convince either parent to attend the meeting, the school
district can (and should) go forward with the meeting. However, the school district
must maintain a record of its attempts to arrange a mutually agreed-upon time and
place for the meeting, including “detailed records of telephone calls made or
attempted and the results of those calls; copies of correspondence and any responses
received; and detailed records of visits made to the parent’s home or place of employment and the results of those visits.” See 34 C.F.R. § 300.322(d).
25. WHAT IF A CHILD DOES NOT LIVE WITH HIS NATURAL PARENTS?
a. 34 C.F.R. § 300.30(a) provides a broad definition of the term “parent.” As
used in this part, the term “parent” means:
(1) a biological or adoptive parent of a child;
(2) a foster parent, unless State law prohibits a foster parent from acting as
a parent;
(3) a guardian generally authorized to act as the child’s parent, or
authorized to make educational decisions for the child (but not the state
if the child is a ward of the state);
(4) an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent
(including a grandparent, stepparent or other relative) with whom the
child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s
welfare; or
(4) a surrogate parent who has been appointed in accordance with 34
C.F.R. § 300.519.
b. Note that under 34 C.F.R. § 300.519, if no “parent” can be identified for the
student, the school district must appoint a surrogate parent.
c. A biological or foster parent, when attempting to act as the parent, and when
more than one party is qualified to act as a parent, must be presumed to be the
parent unless the biological or adoptive parent does not have legal authority to
make educational decisions for the child.
d. If a judicial decree or order identifies a specific person or persons to act as a “parent” of a child or to make educational decisions on behalf of a child, then
such person or persons shall be determined to be the “parent.”
26. WHAT IF THE PARENTS ARE DIVORCED? WHAT DO WE DO THEN?
a. Comments to the IDEA regulations state: “In situations where the parents of
a child are divorced, the parental rights established by the [IDEA] apply to
both parents unless a court order or State law specifies otherwise.” 71 Fed.
Reg. 46568 (August 14, 2006). One case suggests that if a divorced couple is
granted joint custody of their child, either of them could exercise their rights
under special education law.
b. In Sandwich Community Unit School District 430, 33 IDELR 235 (SEA IL
2000), a father of a student requested due process in an effort to obtain an
order allowing the school district to evaluate the student for special education
eligibility. The student’s mother, however, refused to consent to the district’s
request for an evaluation. The hearing officer ordered the school district to
proceed with its evaluation, despite the conflict between the parents. The
hearing officer found the either parent had the authority to act on behalf of the
student in dealing with the school district.
27. HOW LONG MUST AN IEP MEETING LAST?
Enough time to provide the parent with meaningful participation. However, the IDEA
does not require that IEP meetings continue without end. In a Texas case, one hearing
officer stated: “. . . the district [is not] obligated to continue the [IEP team] meeting
for as long as the parent wants.” See Grapevine-Colleyville Indep. Sch. Dist., 21
IDELR 875 (SEA Tex. 1994). One way to avoid lengthy IEP meetings is to develop
an agenda for the meeting, stick to the agenda, and move to the next subject when
agreement on the issue does not appear to be forthcoming.
28. WHAT IF THE IEP TEAM CANNOT ACHIEVE CONSENSUS?
The new IDEA regulations retain the objective of working towards consensus when
making educational decisions. See 71 Fed. Reg. 46661 (August 14, 2006) (discussing
the concept of consensus in eligibility determinations). However, the school district
has ultimate responsibility to ensure that a FAPE is provided. If the team cannot
reach consensus, the school district must provide the parents with prior written notice
of the agency’s proposals or refusals, or both, regarding the child’s educational
program, and the parents have the right to seek resolution of any disagreements by
initiating an impartial due process hearing.
29. IF CONSENSUS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED, CAN WE VOTE INSTEAD?
Sure, but you do so at your peril (i.e., the practice is not recommended). If you do
decide to vote, make sure the votes are properly counted. In one case, a New York
court upheld a hearing officer’s decision allowing several individuals invited by the
parent to vote at the child’s IEP meeting. Initially, the school district only counted
the votes of the individuals whom the IEP team chairperson thought properly
comprised the IEP team. The parent challenged this decision, arguing that if voting
is conducted, all members of the IEP team are entitled to participate. See Sackets
Harbor Cent. Sch. Dist. v. Munoz, 34 IDELR 227 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001).
30. CAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PREPARE A DRAFT OF THE IEP IN
ADVANCE?
On this subject the comments to the new IDEA regulations state:
With respect to a draft IEP, we encourage public agency staff to come
to an IEP Team meeting prepared to discuss evaluation findings and
preliminary recommendations. Likewise, parents have the right to
bring questions, concerns, and preliminary recommendations to the IEP
Team meeting as part of a full discussion of the child’s needs and the
services to be provided to meet those needs.
We do not encourage public agencies to prepare a draft IEP prior to the
IEP Team meeting, particularly if doing so would inhibit a full
discussion of the child’s needs. However, if a public agency develops
a draft IEP prior to the IEP Team meeting, the agency should make it
clear to the parents at the outset of the meeting that the services
proposed by the agency are preliminary recommendations for review
and discussion with the parents. The public agency also should provide
the parents with a copy of its draft proposals, if the agency has
developed them, prior to the IEP Team meeting so as to give the parents
an opportunity to review the recommendations of the public agency
prior to the IEP Team meeting, and be better able to engage in a full
discussion of the proposals for the IEP.
It is not permissible for an agency to have the final IEP completed
before an IEP Team meeting begins.
See 71 Fed. Reg. 46678 (August 14, 2006).
Thus, while preparing a draft ahead of time might be helpful, actually finalizing an
IEP prior to an IEP meeting can get you into hot water. See Blackmon v. Springfield
R-VII Sch. Dist., 29 IDELR 855 (W.D. Mo. 1998) (the school district denied the
parents an opportunity to participate in the development of the student’s IEP by
designing an IEP before holding an IEP meeting).
31. IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF TO MEET IN
ADVANCE OF AN IEP TEAM MEETING TO DISCUSS WHAT THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PROPOSE?
a. Yes. 34 C.F.R. § 300.501(b)(1) states that parents have the right to participate
in any “meeting” that involves the “identification, evaluation, and educational
placement of the child, and the provision of a free, appropriate public
education to such child.” However, the IDEA regulations define a “meeting”
as follows:
A meeting does not include informal or unscheduled
conversations involving public agency personnel and
conversations on issues such as teaching methodology, lesson
plans, or coordination of service provisions if those issues are
not addressed in the child’s IEP. A meeting also does not
include preparatory activities that public agency personnel
engage in to develop a proposal or response to a parent proposal
that will be discussed at a later meeting.
b. On many occasions, the disagreements on the IEP team are among the school
staff. Consequently, it is a good idea to talk about the different school
opinions prior to the IEP meeting.
32. CAN IEP TEAM MEETINGS BE TAPE-RECORDED? SHOULD THEY BE
RECORDED?
The comments to the 1999 IDEA regulations state:
Part B does not address the use of audio or video recording devices at
IEP meetings, and no other federal statute either authorizes or prohibits
the recording of an IEP meeting by either a parent or a school official.
Therefore, an SEA or public agency has the option to require, prohibit,
limit, or otherwise regulate the use of recording devices at IEP
meetings.
If a public agency has a policy that prohibits or limits the use of
recording devices at IEP meetings, that policy must provide for
exceptions if they are necessary to ensure that the parent understands
the IEP or the IEP process or to implement other parental rights
guaranteed under Part B. An SEA or school district that adopts a rule
regulating the tape recording of IEP meetings also should ensure that
it is uniformly applied.
Any recording of an IEP meeting that is maintained by the public
agency is an “education record” within the meaning of [FERPA] and
would, therefore, be subject to the confidentiality requirements of the
regulations under both FERPA . . .
and Part B. . . .
Parents wishing to use audio or video recording devices at IEP
meetings should consult State or local policies for further guidance.
See Appendix A, Question No. 21 (March 12, 1999).
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