The IEP Team Process: Chapter 5 - The IEP Meeting

Summary

The video script depicts a collaborative meeting for Dominic's annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) review. The IEP team, including Dominic's parents, teachers, a school psychologist, and an assistant principal, discuss his strengths, challenges, and future goals. They address concerns about his academic progress, particularly in writing and reading, and establish an ambitious writing goal for Dominic. The team also considers the transition to middle school and the potential use of assistive technology. The meeting concludes with a plan for special education services, accommodations during assessments, and a commitment to keep communication open for Dominic's success.

Takeaways

• 📝 The meeting is an annual review of Dominic's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• 👨‍🏫 Dominic's special education teacher, Sandra Miller, is acting as the IEP team coordinator.
• 📋 A staff member, Diane Woods, is assigned to take notes and ensure all paperwork is completed.
• 👦 Dominic is eligible for special education due to a specific learning disability in written expression and reading comprehension.
• 🌟 Dominic's strengths include being a team player, getting along with peers, drawing well, being strong in math, and having good verbal skills.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Dominic's parents, Ally and Stan Peterson, express concerns about his progress and his ability to keep up with his written homework.
• 🎓 The transition to middle school next year is a special factor that needs to be addressed in Dominic's IEP.
• 📈 A writing goal is proposed for Dominic to improve his ability to write detailed and logically organized essays.
• 🖥️ Assistive technology, such as using a computer for writing, is considered to support Dominic's learning.
• 📊 Progress will be measured using work samples and writing assessments, with weekly data tracking.
• 🏫 Special education services are discussed, with a debate on the appropriate amount of time Dominic should spend in the resource classroom.
• 📅 The team will outline Dominic's school day, including accommodations and supports, and determine how progress will be reported to his parents.
• 📝 The final IEP will document attendance, participation, and provide parents with meeting notes and a prior written notice of changes.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the meeting described in the transcript?

The purpose of the meeting is to conduct Dominic's annual review of his Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Who acts as the IEP team coordinator in this meeting?

Dominic's special education teacher, Sandra Miller, acts as the IEP team coordinator.

What roles do the team members have in the meeting?

The team consists of Dominic's special education teacher, regular education teacher, parents, the student himself, school psychologist, a representative from the middle school, a note-taker, and the assistant principal representing the local school district.

What are Dominic's strengths according to the notes made by the team?

Dominic's strengths include being a team player, getting along well with peers, drawing well, being strong in math, liking to use a computer, and having good verbal skills.

What concerns do Dominic's parents express about his education?

Dominic's parents express concerns that he is not meeting his goals, getting further behind, getting frustrated, and struggling with written homework.

What is the proposed writing goal for Dominic in his IEP?

The proposed writing goal is for Dominic to be able to write a three to five paragraph essay with independent use of graphic organizers upon request, that is well-organized and adequately detailed, on four out of five trials.

Why is assistive technology considered for Dominic despite only having a learning disability?

Assistive technology is considered because it can help Dominic with his writing and journaling, as he tends to perform better when using a computer.

How will Dominic's progress toward meeting his IEP goals be measured and reported?

Dominic's progress will be measured using work samples such as journaling essays and computer work, as well as the results of writing assessments. Progress will be reported to his parents with weekly data on his performance.

What accommodations might Dominic need during testing and assessments?

Dominic might need accommodations such as extra time or taking his tests in a separate room.

What special education services will Dominic receive, and how long will the sessions be?

Dominic will receive special education services in the resource classroom for 45 minutes a day.

What is the final step in the IEP meeting process described in the transcript?

The final step is documenting the meeting attendees and participation, providing the parents with copies of the meeting notes and the revised draft of the IEP, and a document called prior written notice describing changes to Dominic's educational program.