IEP Team Member Excusal

1. IEP Team Member Excusal October 14, 2011

2. Sometimes You Just Can’t Make It… • BUT you still need to participate in IEP meetings in a well-documented, meaningful manner.

3. When can a member of the team be excused? • When the parent and LEA agree that the attendance is not necessary because the member’s area of service isn’t being modified or discussed • Major change: The member’s absence needs to be documented on Member Excusal form • Include reason for absence • Minor change to service area that is not yours: No need to complete the Member Excusal form

4. What are major and minor changes? • Here are your answers: • http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/21381016112141880/lib/21381016112141880/Making_Changes_to_the_IEP.pdf

5. If the parent and LEA consent to the excusal • The member MUST submit, in writing, to the parent and team, input into the development of the IEP prior to the meeting.

6. How is the Excusal Documented? • Use the Davis School District IEP Team Member Not Attending form • Best practice is to involve all relevant members of the IEP team whenever possible. • Use the form SPARINGLY. • When used, a copy needs to be sent to your supervisor at the district. • What does the form look like?

7. When is the Excusal Documented? • The parent has the right to consent or refuse consent for an IEP team member excusal. • It is not appropriate to request this consent at the scheduled meeting time. • Consent must be sought prior to the scheduled meeting time.. • It is recommended that consent is obtained and written input isprovided no less than 2 days prior to the meeting.

8. Who Can’t Be Excused? • The LEA designee • This team member is responsible for knowledge about the availability of resources of the LEA. • If a trained LEA designee cannot attend, the meeting must be re-scheduled for a time when an LEA is available.

9. Can somebody else be the LEA? • In limited cases, a TRAINED school counselor may act as an LEA Designee.

10. What About The General Ed. Teacher? • Requirements for General Ed. Teacher attendance are listed on page 3 of the PIE “IEP Team Member Excusal” document • There are very limited circumstances in which a general education teacher is not required at an eligibility/IEP meeting.

11. How Many Members Can Be Excused? • Excusal of more that 1 IEP team member is not recommended because it could deny parents their right to meaningfully participate in the IEP process. • If more than 1 team member cannot attend, the meeting should be re-scheduled.

12. What if a parent refuses an excusal? • The team needs to identify a meeting date and time that all members of the team can be present. • Meetings need to include all members whenever possible.

13. What info. Should be Provided by the Missing Team Member? • Date of submission of written statement of input into the development of the IEP. • This MUST be at least two days before the meeting • The input the excused member has to offer to the IEP. • The location the input is documented on the DRAFT IEP. • Goal area, service labels, times and freq., classroom and/or test modifications or accommodations

14. Give the parent… • A copy of the DRAFT IEP labeled DRAFT with the areas of documentation highlighted along with this explanation. • Attach all of the above documentation to the Member not Attending form and place in the student’s file with the IEP.

15. What if the student has mastered a skill and/or the service is being discontinued? • Provide evidence of the student’s present level of functioning and academic performance. • Progress reports or an evaluation summary can support ending services. • Be sure to update progress reports to show achievement • Provide contact information to the parent

16. Something to Think About… • Excusal of a team member is not intended to be a time saver. • Involvement in the IEP team meeting is often less time consuming than the excusal process.