Whether you’ve spent years working as a school Occupational Therapist or you recently started your career, preparing for an IEP meeting can feel like a stressful event. In order to make your IEP meeting as helpful and low-stress as possible, we put together five essential things all school OTs must know about them.
What Is the Purpose of an IEP Meeting?
An IEP meeting is an opportunity for each student’s IEP team (teachers, specialists, related service providers, and parents) to meet and discuss that student’s educational plan. Depending on their age, the student may also be included in the meeting.
What Guidelines Must an IEP Meeting Follow?
There are state and district guidelines every IEP meeting must follow. Some states even choose to use different terminology or wording in their guidelines, which can add to general confusion. To make sure you are following state laws as well as IDEA, you should always familiarize yourself with any and all district processes. To be fully familiar with school-based OT guidelines, this state-specific guide can help.
How Often Do IEP Meetings Occur?
After a student is initially assessed for special education, their first IEP meeting will occur. But once that student is receiving ongoing services, IEP meetings will begin being help once a year. The goal of these reoccurring meetings is to review the plan to ensure it is working, or revise it for any areas of new focus or improvement.
How Long Does an IEP Meeting Last?
Generally, an IEP meeting will last for about an hour, though the length of these meetings can vary depending on factors like team size and services provided. If a student has a lengthy IEP or multiple services or team concerns, the IEP may be paused and restarted at another time. The most common length for an IEP meeting is between 30 minutes and an hour.
What Happens If You Miss an IEP Meeting?
Often, school-based OTs are faced with very busy daily schedules which can make attending any IEP meeting a challenge. However, attending IEP meetings is an incredibly important part of the job. The IEP meeting may be the only time that year you have the student’s IEP team together. Attending the meeting is the best way to develop a comprehensive plan to meet each student’s needs. If there is no way to attend at the day or time of the IEP meeting, IDEA allows related service providers to be excused from meetings IF they have parental permission AND their area of service is not being discussed. But the best practice is to attend every IEP meeting for students you are working with.
Looking for a Career as a School Occupational Therapist?
Spotter Staffing helps place top OTs in the best Illinois and Texas schools. If you are interested in learning more about available job opportunities or need some guidance in your career path, check out our currently available positions here or contact our team of expert recruiters today. We are always available to help those who help the amazing students in our communities.