Does this parent sound like something you would say?

"Anyway, when we had the meeting I met a lot of people whose names I couldn’t keep in my head. A lot of pieces of paper got passed around. The teachers and therapists talked about what Emily needed to work on at school. Some of it sounded okay. Some of it, I just couldn’t picture in my head. I spent most of the meeting nodding—like I understood—and agreeing with everything. Later, I realized that if I had visited a class, asked questions, and had someone explain what they were doing, I might have talked more and asked more questions at the meeting. And I don’t think I would have felt so anxious sending Emily to school for the first time. I’ve gotten better with each IEP, though. I don’t just nod anymore! I know the school wants to do what’s right, but they can’t do it alone. I have to be there to speak up, share what I know about Emily, ask questions, and offer suggestions. Emily’s IEPs are a lot better now, because we all really work together. "

If she does, you might want to read the next few pages that tell how parents can be involved with their child's education and why it is important. On these, you will also find a link to the complete guide on parent involvement from which this quote was taken. You will learn how to go from nodding your head in the IEP meeting to making sure your child gets just what he or she needs.

Now that you know what a good IEP is, the first step in making sure your child gets one is to be prepared for the meeting.