Share your experience with unilaterally scheduled IEP meetings

[Anonymous]

DC is in middle school. Things have been challenging for the last year since the school (MCPS) wants to drop services.

The school unilaterally scheduled an IEP meeting without even checking if the date worked. It didn’t. I pushed back and proposed another date. They said it didn’t work and scheduled again without asking. I said it didn’t work and proposed several dates. They said no, scheduled the meeting on a date they knew we can’t attend, and said they’ll proceed anyway.

Has anyone gone through a similar expert. In all my years never had a similar issue.

And no, we can’t attend

[Anonymous]

It's illegal.

[Anonymous]

Our school regularly schedules IEP meetings unilaterally but has always proposed new dates if the initial date doesn’t work for us. They’ve never attempted to have a meeting without us. Our daughter has lots of people on her IEP team. Her annual meeting regularly includes 10+ people so scheduling for that many people is hard. I would presume that the school should take the lead on proposing dates, not me. In an ideal world they’d propose multiple dates and wide time ranges to maximize the chance that it works, but I can see that that gets logistically difficult, if they’re making the same dates available to multiple families. Have you tried talking through the scheduling by phone? It might be easier to pick a date that works on both ends by phone than by email. If that doesn’t help, I’d elevate it to the next appropriate level (probably the school principal, if they’re not already involved).

[Anonymous]

At our ES they always schedule it unilaterally.

[Anonymous]

You have to be a little bit flexible and adjust your schedule, too, Op. They have to coordinate 3-8 people on their end. Also, in a real pinch, just Zoom in to their bad time choice.

[Anonymous]

I usually right back- IEP meetings are supposed to be a joint effort between the school and us. The time you have suggested doesn’t work for us but here are some times that do:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to be a little bit flexible and adjust your schedule, too, Op. They have to coordinate 3-8 people on their end. Also, in a real pinch, just Zoom in to their bad time choice.

This. I know it isn’t always possible but treat this like a high priority because it is really hard to schedule on the school’s end.

[Anonymous]

Our school proposes a date and time, and ask if we could join in person or join through virtual or carry on without us being presented. Of course, I and DH treat it as a priority and make to attend the meeting in person every single time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school proposes a date and time, and ask if we could join in person or join through virtual or carry on without us being presented. Of course, I and DH treat it as a priority and make to attend the meeting in person every single time.

Sure, but not everyone has a flexible job and schools are required to make reasonable efforts to make meetings accessible to parents. For example, I have clients who aren't paid for time off who can make mornings work but not afternoons (or vice versa) and I expect schools to accommodate that even if the school's "normal" time is in the afternoon. Same with certain days of the week.

[Anonymous]

Is this an IEP meeting for which your signature will be needed for the document to go into effect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's illegal.

No, it isnt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school proposes a date and time, and ask if we could join in person or join through virtual or carry on without us being presented. Of course, I and DH treat it as a priority and make to attend the meeting in person every single time.

Sure, but not everyone has a flexible job and schools are required to make reasonable efforts to make meetings accessible to parents. For example, I have clients who aren't paid for time off who can make mornings work but not afternoons (or vice versa) and I expect schools to accommodate that even if the school's "normal" time is in the afternoon. Same with certain days of the week.

How much do you want to bet that OPs family is NOT one with only unpaid leave.

[Anonymous]

If you're expecting the meeting to be held outside of teacher contract hours you're the problem.

[Anonymous]

It's not unusual for schools to unilaterally propose dates. Think of how many people they have to coordinate. Most schools have an IEP day or two where they try to schedule meetings because some of the staff (particularly related services) are only part time. Every family that needs a meeting at an "off" time is usually causing a domino effect where other kids' services are being missed.

"I have to work" isn't a good excuse. So does everyone. Meetings are held during the workday. Your kid is your only meeting but the school has hundreds of these a year and the logistics are a nightmare.

They have to give you two no-shows, at least in Maryland. On the third attempt, they can indeed proceed without you.

[Anonymous]

Typically when I can't attend and propose alternate days, the school supports that.

If they are barreling ahead - do things to slow it down.
Read the procedural safeguards for your district.

Write an email that says something like, I understand that ________ has identified that goals have been mastered ....... I have parental concerns around changes to the IEP as I do not believe the established goals support my child's needs.

In our area, you need to do an AED meeting before a student can be dismissed from a service area - you can drag it out by asking for each of the process steps to be done.

Make sure in your emails back you are stating how important it is to participate as a parent as you have specific insight to bring to the table as an IEP team member.

Good luck