I have heard from a few parents that their charter school has told them that “they don’t have to follow IDEA because they’re a charter school.” You can see that IDEA says otherwise. Words are all we have, really. Water or beverages if the meeting will run over an hour. Changes to the IEP may be made either by the entire IEP Team at an IEP Team meeting, or as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, by amending the IEP rather than by redrafting the entire IEP. Keep in mind that as the parent, you are an important part of the IEP team and you are also an expert in your child. Once assessment results are available, the LEA is responsible for arranging an IEP team meeting … (iii) is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency. This person should know what resources are available to the district and have the authority to allocate such resources. This individual is commonly referred to as the “Local Educational Agency Representative”. Ensuring that any and all academic and functional achievement gaps identified in Step 1 have been discussed when discussing the student’s effects of disability and disability-related needs. Although LEA representatives serve a critical role in Step 4, Aligning IEP Services, they have responsibilities and can make contributions throughout the five step process. If disagreements occur about the type of special education service that should be used to address a disability-related need, ensure all IEP team members are given opportunities to share ideas and encourage the team to focus on the “interests”, e.g. Anything from “I really don’t like our principal, why does he/she have to come?” to “The special ed director really has it in for my kid, do they have to come to the meeting?”. For example, there may be many reasons why an IEP team member may feel that a specific supplementary aid or service may be required for a student. This individual is known as the LEA Representative and is ordinarily a school or district administrator. I point this out only for reference. (iii) Provides special education and related services to children with disabilities within the State. This is the “LEA Rep.” Illinois administrative rules also require that the LEA Rep “have the authority to make commitments for the provision of resources and be able to ensure that the services set out in the IEP will be implemented.” So, can a non-administrator be an LEA Rep? Thus, school districts may lawfully be represented by an attorney at IEP meetings, whether or not the parent brings an attorney to the meeting. You have to agree to the time and place. Additional IEP Team Members You Can Invite A parent advocate: You can bring a parent advocate to help you. A meeting may This graphic may assist IEP teams with understanding the connections between three required components of IEP goal statements; baseline, level of attainment, and procedures to monitor progress of IEP goals. Ensuring communication systems are in place between general and special education staff to share information and data on the effectiveness of general and special education instruction and supports as well as data that monitors progress of IEP goals. The most common type of meeting that I’m required to be in is call the IEP meeting. The LEA Rep represents the district and is responsible for ensuring that anything requested in the meeting (in terms of district resources) can be made available. Plus, you have to have solid data that their presence at the IEP meeting is detrimental to your child. What should you bring? In addition to school principals who may serve as the LEA representative on an IEP team, school principals have additional responsibility for ensuring school staff who are working with students with IEPs are supported and held accountable for IEP implementation. Additional information that the Local Education Agency (LEA) has found to be u seful may also be included. The LEA Representative has the following responsibilities during the IEP meeting: A. We as parents cannot decide who is the LEA. The LEA representative has an important role in the provision of FAPE as this is the person on an IEP team who has the authority to commit agency resources and must be able to ensure that special education services described in the IEP will be provided as written. organization, social and emotional, etc.) “An IEP meeting brings together the entire IEP team assisting your child – educators, treatment providers, parents, the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative and others. You are an advocate for your child,” says White. (d) Conducting an IEP Team meeting without a parent in attendance. Students who are in a special education program are required to have an IEP. Notify of {} [+] {} [+] 2 Comments . §§300.322(a), (c) and (d); 34 C.F.R. by Daniel Parker, Assistant Director of Special Education, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The parent(s)/guardian(s) is an important part of that team. In my professional opinion, that is not a good decision, but we’ll get into excluding IEP meeting people in a bit. This notification prompts an IEP meeting. If the IEP meeting date is 12/14/17, the anticipated duration date must be no later than 12/13/18. In many IEP meetings one of the school system staff members is introduced as “the LEA” without further explanation. If the student already has behavioral supports, but there are repeated behavioral incidents and/or disciplinary removals, the IEP team should review and revise the IEP and engage in further discussion of a student’s effect of disability and disability-related needs in this area. Parent permission is needed in order for the IEP to be put into effect. Be sure all information is gathered prior to the IEP meeting, so it can be as efficient as possible. The LEA or case manager must convene the IEP meeting within 15 school days of the 5th missed service session to consider the impact of the missed session on the student’s progress and performance, and determine how to ensure the continued provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The Seven Words You Can (Should) Never Say at an IEP Meeting “I love words. It is a time when all of your child’s limits and obstacles will be written down. Supporting the beliefs, skills, and systems that educators require for effective IEP implementation. If you’re new to the process, you might wonder what IEP meetings are for. IEP meetings may be held one right after another. Ensuring that any behavior related needs that have been documented in Step 1, or brought up at the IEP meeting, are further discussed by the team to identify how this might effect a student’s access, engagement, and progress in grade level general education instruction and environments as well as dig deeper in understanding why the team feels this behavior is occurring. IDEA is very specific about who are the mandated IEP team members. IDEA is very specific about who are the mandated IEP team members. I thank you for hearing my words. Step 5 crosses into IEP implementation and is a critical component to providing FAPE to students who receive special education services. -->Can't have a meeting for an initial evaluation or an initial placement without the parent. Chuck 07/18/2016 4:17 pm Yes, if they meet the IDEA criteria, 300.321(a)(4). To assist IEP teams in Step 2: Identify Effects of Disability and Disability-Related Needs, the IEP team LEA representative can assist by: In Step 3, Develop IEP Goals, the IEP team develops ambitious and achievable goals that close achievement gaps by supporting the student’s unique disability-related needs. Wrightslaw: All About IEPs Chapter 2, p. 9. teacher LEA Representative not less than 24 hours prior to the IEP meeting. Ensuring IEP services, including specially designed instruction, related services, and supports and accommodations (supplementary aids and services) are provided to the student, as written. Annual and interim reviews of progress identify what is working and what may need to change to address the student’s disability-related needs more effectively; and support student access, engagement, and progress in standards-based instruction and other educational activities. The parent can request an additional IEP Team meeting at any time and does not have to agree to excuse an IEP Team member. Yes, but with a few words of caution. 34 C.F.R. This entry was posted in Question and tagged I by Community. A child advocate will help in reviewing the IEP. The LEA representative can facilitate a discussion in relation to the underlying interest, which is likely related to supporting a student’s disability-related need, so the IEP team might consider a variety of options that would address and meet the individual need of the student so that they can better access, engage, and make progress in grade level general education curriculum, instruction, and environment. Subscribe. It can be very intimidating to sit at a table with … The LEA is a largely misunderstood position or role at IEP meetings. The short answer is: The LEA is the person who is there to represent the school district. Presides over the IEP meeting; B. Determines which services are reasonable and necessary and will be provided by the district to the participating student; And, if there is no LEA at your IEP meeting, then technically an annual IEP meeting did not happen. IEP Review. The Local Educational Agency (LEA) representative is an important and required team member of each student’s IEP Team. The Purpose of IEP Meetings. Remember you can always change your mind and withdraw permission for any or all of the parts of the IEP you agreed to. Since the LEA representative has the ability to commit district resources, there is no provision for this person to leave during the meeting, or to send a teacher in his/her place. Only required IEP team members, not additional IEP team members need to be excused in writing. §§ 115C-106 (b), 115C-110, 115C-113 (b) & (f), and that the rule is consistent with IDEA and its regulations. The term includes the following: (1) Educational service agency, defined as a regional public multi-service agency—, (i) Authorized by State law to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to LEAs; and. Many times when you start an IEP meeting, a staff person will say “And I’m the LEA today.” That means that that person is designated to represent the district. School principals have day to day influence on IEP service delivery and are in the position to support the needs of those who implement IEPs and the systems in which they work. If not, talk to the trusted person you brought to the meeting, or contact one of the other IEP participants for clarification. 30 more ridiculous comments heard at an IEP Meeting Last week Dennise Goldberg a special education advocate and mother of a child with special needs shared the Top Ten Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting.. Who is there? 4. Who Can Serve As LEA at IEP Meetings? IEP team members must also have the confidence to speak up when its man-dates are not being followed. It’s official. Ensuring that academic and functional performance of the student are described in relation to the expectations of grade level peers. IEP meetings can be confusing and stressful for many parents—especially the first meeting. For more information see Creating Agreement: https://dpi.wi.gov/sped/topics/agreement. To assist IEP teams in Step 1: Understand Achievement, the LEA representative can assist by: In Step 2, Identify Effect of Disability-Disability Related Need, the IEP team first identifies “how” the student’s disability is observed to affect access, engagement, and progress in general education instruction, activities, and environments. Either the parents or the school can ask at any time to hold an IEP meeting to revise the child's IEP. You can solicit this meeting when you feel it is necessary, and it's very important that you then attend as well. (3) Entities that meet the definition of intermediate educational unit or IEU in section 602(23) of the Act, as in effect prior to June 4, 1997. © Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, AWSA Professional Learning Handout Archive. (i) Is under the general supervision of a State educational agency; (ii) Is established by State law for the purpose of providing FAPE on a regional basis; and. Permissible IEP Participants: Additional teachers and service providers, if available and permitted by the LEA; Any other individuals who have special knowledge regarding the student, including service professionals; The student may attend, when appropriate; and. The LEA Representative must also have the authority to commit District Highlighting how many special education services can be provided in the regular education environment. To foster effective IEP teams, it is important that school districts focus on proactive training for the key school IEP team member responsible for ensuring proper process: The LEA Representative (LEA). Being prepared can help you go into them feeling confident and able to advocate for your child. If you have agreed to the IEP, review the agreed upon IEP to make sure you understand it. Additionally, please note that after Number 2 above, IDEA specifically mentions that Charter Schools are LEA. Providing an IEP agenda in advance and setting norms at the beginning of a meeting is recommended. Then the IEP team uses root cause analysis to dig deep to determine “why” the student is not meeting early childhood/grade level academic standards and functional expectations. 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