We're almost at the finish line. But before summer hits, it's worth asking: is your child's IEP actually working?
If you're not sure, keep reading.
This Month's Focus
Why Your Child's IEP Isn't Working
(And What to Do)
If you're like most parents, you signed an IEP last fall with a lot of hope. Now it's May, and you're starting to wonder: is this thing actually helping my kid?
Here's the truth: a lot of IEPs aren't working. Not because teachers don't care, but because the plan was never really built around your child to begin with.
Common Pitfalls
5 Reasons Your IEP Might Be Falling Short
The Goals Are Vague
"Student will improve reading skills" is not a goal. It's a wish. Real IEP goals need to be specific, measurable, and tied to a timeline. If nobody can show you the data, something is off.
Services Don't Match the Needs
Your child might get speech therapy, but what if the actual problem is how they're accessing the classroom? Services need to target the real issue, not just check a box.
Progress Isn't Being Measured
If you haven't seen a progress report with real data, ask why. Schools are legally required to track goal progress. If yours isn't doing that, that's worth pushing back on.
The IEP Was Built Around Availability, Not Your Child
Sometimes the services on an IEP are based on what the district has available, not what your child actually needs. That's backwards. The IEP is supposed to be built around your kid, not their budget.
Nobody Told You About Compensatory Services
If your child missed services that were written into the IEP, they may be owed compensatory services: extra support to make up for what didn't happen. Most parents have never heard of this. Now you have.
What You Can Do Right Now
You don't need to wait for the next annual meeting. Here's what you can do right now.
I started The IEP Coach because I kept seeing the same thing: parents leaving meetings feeling confused, unheard, and like they had no idea what just happened. Kids falling through the cracks. Families who just needed someone in their corner.
You don't have to figure this out alone. And if something feels off with your child's IEP, trust that feeling. You know your kid better than anyone in that room.
Stay Connected
Let's Connect
This newsletter goes out to parents in the thick of it, trying to figure out a system that wasn't designed to be easy. If any of this hit home, here's what to do next:
Reply to this email. I read every single one. Ask a question, share what's going on with your child, or just say hi.
Pass this along. If you know a parent who's in the thick of an IEP fight, send this their way. Word of mouth is how families find each other.
Ready to talk through your situation? Book a free call at theiepcoach.com
Hang in there. The school year's almost done, and you're doing more than you know.
and advocating for what your child deserves.