5 Questions Every Parent Must Ask
at an IEP Meeting
Know your rights. Understand the paperwork. Walk in prepared. Written by a Pennsylvania school administrator with nearly thirty years inside public schools, who chaired hundreds of IEP meetings and now stands on your side of the table.
Dr. Bridgette A. Miles, Ed.D.
Founder, CANDUIT Solutions LLC · Former Elementary School Principal, Coatesville PA
Walking into an IEP meeting can feel overwhelming. The room is full of professionals who know the system, the language, and what they plan to recommend before you arrive. You have every right to be there as a full and equal member of your child's team.
This guide gives you the five most important questions to ask, explains why each one matters, and tells you the rights that back you up when you ask them. You do not need to memorize this. You just need to know what to ask and what the answers should sound like. That is exactly what this guide gives you.
What does my child's present level of performance actually mean, and how was it determined?
Why this question matters
The present level of performance is the foundation of everything in your child's IEP. Every goal, every service, and every support is built on this description. If the picture is incomplete or inaccurate, everything built on top of it will be off.
What to listen for in the answer
Ask the team to walk you through the specific data they used. What tests were given? What observations were made? What did teachers report? You have the right to understand every piece of evidence, explained in plain language without jargon.
Your legal rights under IDEA
Under IDEA, the IEP must include a statement of your child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance. You have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at no cost to you if you disagree with the school's evaluation results.
Insider tip from Dr. Miles
If the present level description sounds vague or generic, ask: Can you show me the specific data that led to this description? A strong team will be able to point to something specific every time.
How were these goals chosen for my child specifically, and how will we know if they are working?
Why this question matters
IEP goals should be written specifically for your child, not copied from a template. They should connect directly to what the present level says your child needs. Vague goals lead to vague progress, and vague progress is hard to track or challenge.
What to listen for in the answer
Ask why each goal was chosen, how it connects to your child's specific needs, and exactly how progress will be measured. Goals must be measurable. Someone should be able to look at a number, a percentage, or a clearly observed behavior and tell you whether your child met the goal or not.
Your legal rights under IDEA
IDEA requires IEP goals to be measurable and to address your child's disability-related needs. Schools must report your child's progress toward goals as often as they report grades for children without disabilities, typically at each grading period.
Insider tip from Dr. Miles
A goal that says Johnny will improve his reading is not measurable. A goal that says Johnny will read grade-level passages with 80 percent accuracy in 4 out of 5 trials is measurable. If a goal sounds vague, ask exactly how they will measure it.
What services is my child legally entitled to receive, who will provide them, and where will they happen?
Why this question matters
Your child's IEP must list every special education service, every related service, and every support they will receive. This includes who provides the service, how often, for how long, and in what setting. Many families leave meetings without knowing what their child is actually getting, from whom, and when.
What to listen for in the answer
Ask the team to go through each service line by line. Who specifically will provide this? What are their qualifications? Will it happen in the regular classroom or a separate setting, and why? Has the team considered less restrictive options for your child?
Your legal rights under IDEA
IDEA requires schools to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment. Your child must be educated alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. Any removal from general education must be individually justified with documented reasons.
Insider tip from Dr. Miles
If a service is listed as as needed or when available, that is a red flag. Services must have a specific frequency and duration written into the IEP. Ask the team to put a number on it before the meeting ends.
What accommodations will my child receive, and how will the school make sure every teacher actually follows through?
Why this question matters
Accommodations change how your child learns or shows what they know, without changing what is being taught. Common accommodations include extended time, preferential seating, and testing in a separate setting. The problem is that accommodations are often listed in the IEP but not consistently provided in the classroom.
What to listen for in the answer
Ask how accommodations are communicated to every teacher who works with your child. Ask who is responsible for making sure they are actually provided day to day. Ask what happens if a teacher does not follow through. Ask whether your child's accommodations apply to state and district testing as well.
Your legal rights under IDEA
Schools are legally required to implement all accommodations listed in the IEP. If a teacher fails to provide a listed accommodation, that is a violation of your child's IEP. You can request documentation confirming that accommodations have been implemented throughout the school year.
Insider tip from Dr. Miles
At the start of every school year, email each of your child's teachers and ask them to confirm they have received and reviewed the IEP. This creates a written record and ensures teachers know their obligations from Day 1.
What are my rights if I disagree with something in this IEP, and what happens next?
Why this question matters
You are a full and equal member of your child's IEP team. You are not required to agree with everything proposed. You are not required to sign the IEP at the meeting. Knowing your rights before you walk in the door means you are never pressured into an agreement that does not serve your child.
What to listen for in the answer
If you disagree with any part of the IEP, say so clearly and ask that your concerns be documented in the meeting notes. You can take the IEP home before signing. You can request an additional meeting, an independent evaluation, mediation, or a due process hearing.
Your legal rights under IDEA
IDEA provides parents with a complete set of procedural safeguards. You must receive a copy of these safeguards at least once per year. You have the right to Prior Written Notice whenever the school proposes to change or refuses to change your child's program. No significant change can happen without your consent.
Insider tip from Dr. Miles
Never feel rushed to sign at the meeting. Ask the team clearly: What happens if I take this home to review before I sign? A team that respects your rights will give you a clear, honest answer without pressure.
Next step
Talk it through with someone who has been in the room.
The complimentary discovery call is a short, no-cost conversation about your child's situation. Bring your questions, and leave with clear next steps.
Learn about the Discovery Call→You showed up for your child today.
If you have a meeting coming up and want personalized preparation, a customized question guide for your child's specific IEP, and someone who has sat at that table from both sides, CANDUIT is here.
Book a Complimentary Discovery Call→CANDUIT Solutions LLC is an educational advocacy and consulting service. Dr. Miles is not an attorney and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. canduitsolutions.com · drmiles@canduitsolutions.com · Coatesville, Pennsylvania