Notification to Participate in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting

1. Notification to Participate in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting Los Angeles Unified School District Division of Special Education

2. Objectives • Be aware of legal mandates • Understand notification procedures • Complete Notification to Participate in an Individualized Education Program Meeting form • Maintain accurate documentation of attempts to ensure parent participation

3. Legal Mandate EC 56341.5 (a) “Each local educational agency convening a meeting of the individualized education program team shall take steps to ensure that no less than one of the parents or guardians of the individual with exceptional needs are present at each individualized education program meeting or afforded the opportunity to participate.”

4. Legal Mandate EC 56341.5 (b) “Parents or guardians shall be notified of the individualized education program meeting early enough to ensure an opportunity to attend.” EC 56341.5 (c) “The individualized education program meeting shall be scheduled at a mutually agreed-upon time and place. The notice of the meeting…shall indicate the purpose, time, and location of the meeting and who shall be in attendance. Parents or guardians also shall be informed in the notice of the right…to bring other people to the meeting who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the individual with exceptional needs…”

5. Legal Mandate EC 56341.5 (e) “For an individual with exceptional needs, beginning no later than the effective date of the individualized education program in effect when the individual reaches the age of” 14 years… “the meeting notice also shall indicate that a purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of the postsecondary goals and transition services…and the meeting notice shall indicate that the individual…is invited to attend.”

6. Legal Mandate EC 56342.5 “A local education agency shall ensure that the parent of each individual with exceptional needs is a member of any group that makes decisions on the educational placement of the individual with exceptional needs.”

7. IEP Meeting Notification • Notify/Confirm Meeting Date with LAUSD Participants • Provide Notification Form to • Parent/Guardian • Student (when considering postsecondary goals and transition services)

8. Scheduling IEP Meeting • Schedule Meeting at Mutually Agreed Upon Time and Place so Parent Can Attend • Provide Notification at Least 10 Day before Meeting

9. Type of IEP Meeting • Initial • Review • Other • Amendment • 30 Day IEP • Reevaluation

10. Purpose of IEP Meeting • Eligibility • Develop, Review or Revise • 3 Year Review • Early Start Transition • Preschool Transition • Develop, Review or Revise ITP • Expulsion Analysis • Other

11. IEP Meeting Participants • Parent • Student (when considering postsecondary goals and transition services) • General Ed Teacher • Special Ed Teacher • Administrator/Designee • Assessor/Qualified Individual • Other (invited by District or Parent)

12. IEP Team Member Excusal • REF-3804.0 IEP Team Membership Requirements and the IEP Team Member Excusal Process, July 23, 2007 • Parent and Administrator/Designee Must • Consent to excusal in writing • Agree that attendance is not necessary because area of curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed • Have excused IEP Team member submit, in writing to the parent and IEP Team, input into the development of the IEP prior to the meeting if areas of curriculum or related service is being modified or discussed

13. Parent Participation at IEP Meeting • Parent /Guardian Response • Plan to Attend • Attendance may be by conference call • Plan to attend, if unable, do not proceed • Unable to Attend • Reschedule • Parent May • Bring additional individuals • Request accommodations • Request oral interpreter

14. Parent Participation(continued) • Parent May Request IEP Team to Consider Independent Education Evaluation Report • Submitted prior to IEP Meeting • Reviewed and Summarized on IEP

15. Parent Signature • Parent Signature • School Contact Information

16. School Documentation • Document Attempts to Ensure Parent Participation • Phone • Mail • E-mail • Reschedule meeting date

17. Send to Parent • Notification to Participate in IEP Meeting • Send 2 Copies • Parent’s copy • School copy • A Parent’s Guide to Special Education Services…2009 • IEP and You…2008 • ITP and You…2008(students 13 yrs and older*)

18. IEP Without Parent Attendance • IEP Team Meeting May Be Conducted if School Unable to Convince Parent/Guardian to Attend • Required Documentation • Attempts to arrange mutually agreed upon place/time • Detailed records of phone calls • Copies of correspondence sent/received • Enter Pertinent Information into Welligent Meeting Notes