IEPObservation

IattendedB.K.sIEPmeetingtocompletemyIEPobservation.Thepurposeofthe
meetingwastodiscussthestudentsrecentevaluationstodeterminetheirIEPeligibility.The
meetingwasleadbythedistrictheadofspecialeducationandwasattendedbymyself,the
studentsmathteacher,aspecialeducationteacher,theschoolsocialworker,aguidance
counselor,andthestudentsroundtableteacher(whoisalsotheheadoftheschooltowork
program).Unfortunately,thestudentwasmissingatthistime,andtheparentdidnotattend.It
wasnotedtobebeforethestartofthemeetingthatthiswouldbeaveryunusualmeeting.Asno
parentorstudentattendedthismeeting,andallfacultymemberswerefamiliarwitheachother,
nospecialstepsweretakentoaddressthecomfortofthoseintheroomfacultywereassumed
tobecomfortablewitheachotherandtheprocess.
Theagendawasnotdescribedoutrightatthebeginningofthemeeting(perhaps
becausetheonlyindividualstherewerefacultymembersthatseemedtohaveanunderstanding
ofthepurposeofthemeetingwithoutsuchalaidoutdescription).Theseriesofeventswas
somethinglikethis:updateonstudentscurrentstatusdiscussionofevaluationreports
discussionofstudentsIEPqualificationdiscussionofstudentsneeds:academicor
social/emotionaldiscussionofpossiblesteps:summerschool,inschoolhomebase,
roundtablediscussionofaccommodationsrecapitulationofconclusions.
Sixprofessionals(andmyself)wereseatedaroundaconferencetableinamediumsized
conferenceroom.Evaluationscoreswerepassedaroundthatdescribesfeaturessuchas
studentsverbalcomprehension,visualspatial,fluidreasoning,workingmemory,andprocessing
speed.Theevaluationscoresweredescribedandthediscussionwasleadbythedistricthead
ofspecialeducation.Firstsemesterstudentmissed24daysduetooutsidefactors,not
skippingschool.Theteamsconsensuswasthatthestudentlikestobeatschoolbutcertain
outsidefactorspreventedthestudentfromattending.
Facultydecidedthatthespecialeducationserviceswouldhelphim.Fromthispointthey
weretryingtodeterminewhichcategoryhefitsunderbest,E.D.orL.D.werethebiggest
considerations.ThefacultydeterminedhebetterqualifiesunderE.D.ashisscoresarenot
sufficienttodetermineanL.D.
Itwasdeterminedthestudentneedssocial/emotionalgoalsmorethanacademicgoals.
Themathteachersperspectivewasaskedforinregardstoifitseemsthatacademicgoalsare
lessappropriatethansocial/emotionalgoals.Themathteacheragreedthatheisdoingfinein
mathclassandthegreaterneedforthestudentissocially/emotionally.Summerschoolwas
discussedasapossiblegoodsupportforthestudenttoincreaseacademicsupportaswellas
maintainingtheplacementofadultfiguresnearhim.Theteamconcludedthatevenifthe
studentisplacedelsewhere,notatthishighschool,thenthisplanwillfollowhim.Forthis
reasonaplanshouldbecompletedasitwillcontinuetosupporthimwhereverhegoes.
Ingeneral,teacherscontributedwhattheynoticedintheirownclassrooms.The
classroomteacherwasexpectedtohaveinformationabouthomeworkcompletionandother
gradebookinformation.Theteacherswereaskedabouthisacademicperformance.Student
worksampleswerenotprovidedbyanyteacherpersonalinterpretationsandreportswere
offered.Thespecialeducationteacherinformsothersofsomeoftheconversationsthatshehas

hadwiththestudent.Severalparticipantsnotedthatthestudenthasexhibitedskillin
selfregulation.Avarietyofparticipantsofferedsuggestionsondifferentpotential
accommodations.Themeetingconcludedbyrecapitulatingtheconclusionsmadethroughout
themeeting.
AsateacherIwillprepareformeetingsbyreferringtostudentinformationsuchas
grades,interestsurveys(andothercommunicationswehavehad)andstudentwork.Theparent
whomissedthismeetingdidnotmissbecausetheydidnotcare.Therewerespecial
circumstances.WhatIamnotsureaboutiswhatcantheschooltodogetastudentservicesif
theparentdoesnotwanttoparticipate?Ibelievetheparentsconsentisrequiredforanyaction
tobetaken.Thisseemsmoreobviouslytruethattheschoolcannotmakedramatic
accommodationsforthestudentwithouttheparentsconsent(individualizedclasses,other
moresignificantservicesthatcreatemoreseveremodifications).Butwhataboutteachers
meetingtodiscussminorinclassaccommodations(preferentialseating,graphicorganizers,
abilitytoretaketestsorally,thingslikethat).IsanIEPteamevenallowedtomeetabouta
studentwithoutaparentsconsentorwithoutanactualIEP?Iwillhavetodiscussthese
questionswithmymentorteacher,andthespecialeducationteacherIseefrequently.