Your Child's End-of-Year IEP Meeting: 5 Things Every Parent Should Push For Before Summer
Spring is here, and for families of children with IEPs, that means one thing: the end-of-year IEP meeting is right around the corner. For a lot of parents, these meetings feel like a formality. The team runs through a few updates, everyone signs, and you're out the door in twenty minutes.
But here's what most parents don't realize: this meeting might be the most important one all year. What happens (or doesn't happen) in this meeting sets the stage for your child's entire next school year. And once summer hits, it becomes much harder to get anyone at the DOE to return your calls.
Here are five things to push for before the school year ends.
1. Request Progress Reports Before the Meeting
Don't walk into the meeting blind. You have the right to see progress reports on every single IEP goal, and you should review them before you sit down at the table. If the school hasn't sent them, ask in writing at least a week ahead of time.
When you get those reports, look closely. Is your child actually making progress toward their goals, or are you seeing the same vague language meeting after meeting? If the data isn't there, that's a conversation you need to have at the meeting, not in September.
2. Don't Accept "We'll Revisit This in the Fall"
This is one of the most common things parents hear at end-of-year meetings, and it's one of the most dangerous. If something isn't working, if a service isn't being provided, if a placement isn't appropriate, if a goal hasn't budged all year, the time to address it is now.
Once summer starts, the clock doesn't stop on your child's education, but accountability often does. Get changes documented in the IEP before the meeting ends, not as a verbal promise for next year.
3. Make Sure Summer Services Are in Writing
If your child qualifies for Extended School Year (ESY) services, those should be clearly written into the IEP with specific start dates, service types, and frequency. A vague mention of "summer programming" isn't enough.
And if the school says your child doesn't qualify for ESY, ask them to explain, in writing, the basis for that decision. You have the right to challenge it.
4. Flag What Isn't Working
The end-of-year meeting is your opportunity to go on the record. If your child has been struggling all year, if services were inconsistent, if the classroom placement wasn't right, say so and make sure it's documented in the meeting notes.
This isn't about being confrontational. It's about making sure the record reflects your child's actual experience, not just what the school puts in the paperwork.
5. Put Evaluation Requests on the Calendar Now
Is your child due for a reevaluation? Do you think the school's last evaluation didn't tell the full story? Don't wait until fall to start the process. Submit a written request for evaluations now, whether it's a triennial reevaluation or a request in a specific area the school hasn't assessed.
This is especially important because evaluation timelines can stretch for months. A request submitted in May gives the school far less room to delay than one submitted in October.
When the Meeting Doesn't Go the Way It Should
Even when parents do everything right, sometimes the school still doesn't listen. Goals stay the same year after year. Services get quietly reduced. Evaluations are rushed or incomplete.
If that sounds familiar, you have options. Under federal law, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense if you disagree with the school's evaluation. An independent evaluator, one chosen by you and not the DOE, can provide a clearer picture of your child's needs. And if the school is denying your child the services they're entitled to, you have the right to file for due process, where an impartial hearing officer can order the DOE to provide what your child needs.
To learn more about IEEs, due process, and your rights as a parent, contact us.
