Welcome back to in person learning!! I know it is a relief for many parents and caregivers. It has been almost a full year since students were sent home and distant learning began. But, if your child had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), here is what you need to know but the schools might not be telling you.
Schools must hold IEP meetings for every child that has an IEP when children return to in person learning. Yes, EVERY student. In April 2020, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) put out a Technical Assistant Bulletin (TAB) on what should be occurring when students return to in person learning. This TAB states that all schools must hold IEP meetings for every student that has an IEP. Not just ones that seem to be having difficulty, but for EVERY student that has an IEP.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss whether your child had a decline in abilities or a lack of progress towards IEP goals. Both are especially important. We all know we had an exceedingly difficult year. And our special education students had an even more difficult time with distant learning. While we know that schools did the best they could and the teachers were amazing, some of our children regressed or failed to progress towards their IEP goals. This is the focus of the meeting.
It is important to remember that you are an equal part of the IEP team and even more important, you are the one that has been home with your child for the year. You are the one that has the most data and most knowledge on whether your child declined or had lack of progress towards the IEP goals. If your child did decline OR had a lack of progress, then the school needs to give you compensatory education.
Compensatory education can look different for everyone. It can be additional services in the school. It can be outside tutoring. It could be potentially Extended School Year. It is whatever you and the IEP team think is necessary to make your child whole again. If you think your child has declined or had a lack of progress, or if you're not sure, please feel free to contact me so we can help you have a stress-free IEP experience.
