5 Questions for Your IEP Team

We are so thrilled for the school year to start! I am excited about the growth 🪴 we will see as we pour into each child through our Intensive Day Program and individual ABA sessions. Whether attending Orchid part-time, have graduated, or will graduate, you will experience the public school Individual Education Plan (IEP) process. I compiled some questions to help you advocate for your child in the 2023-24 school year. 

• Question 1: Can we get a refresh? You may request an IEP after 30 days of starting school. If your school team wants to wait until the IEP date later in the year, request a meeting to review and update the team on progress made over the summer! 

• Question 2: Can my Orchid BCBA attend an IEP meeting? Inviting whomever you want is your right, so make sure your BCBA is on that list! While everyone at an IEP meeting is on your child's team, having many people around the table can be overwhelming. Bring some friends/family to support you along with your Orchid Team! 

• Question 3: What should my child's goals be? Building IEP goals should be a collaboration between the school and parents! A strong IEP will have 2-3 goals for each category the child qualified for in their evaluation. If they qualified for every area, they should have at least two goals as follows:
  ✅ Reading
  ✅ Writing
  ✅ Math
  ✅ Communication (Even if they don't qualify for speech)
  ✅ Social Skills 
  ✅ Adaptive Skills (E.g., dressing, transitioning, using the bathroom, etc.)
  ✅ Positive Behavior Solutions / Problem Behavior Reduction
  ✅ Fine Motor (If qualified for occupational therapy)
  ✅ Gross Motor (If qualified for physical therapy)

• Question 4: How can Orchid Academy and your school partner? We are happy to provide training and support to any school team. For example, we had a client where Orchid and the school collaborated in such a way that the school did more social goals given the setting, and Orchid took on more academic goals to ensure the school maximized the social setting. 

• Question 5: How often do I get progress notes? Do not settle for progress at the quarter with report cards; ask for weekly data reports and a daily communication binder.

You are your child’s best advocate! Coming prepared with questions will allow you to