School psychologists: Here are best practices for attending IEP meetings with advocates and attorneys.

<p>How many IEP meetings have you attended as a school psychologist? Probably, quite a few!</p>

<p>But have you had the opportunity to participate in an IEP meeting with an advocate or attorney present yet? The experience can be a bit intimidating if you&rsquo;re unprepared. However, if you take some time to learn about the process and plan for your role in the meeting, you&rsquo;ll be just fine!</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s some background on IEP meetings with advocates or attorneys, roles of participants, aims of advocates and attorneys, and Do&rsquo;s and Don&rsquo;ts for <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/dawn-r-school-psychologist-counseling-department-lead">school psychologists</a>.</p>

<h2>Who Attends IEP Meetings?</h2>

<p>As a school psychologist, you should be very familiar with the IEP process and what happens during IEP meetings. (If you feel like you need a refresher before an upcoming IEP meeting with an advocate or attorney, it can&rsquo;t hurt to visit the U.S. Department of Education&rsquo;s Guide to the <a href="https://www2.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html" target="_blank">Individualized Education Program</a>).</p>

<p>The parties that attend routine IEP meetings include (<a href="https://sites.ed.gov/idea/regs/b/d/300.321" target="_blank">IDEA, Sec. 300.321 IEP Team</a>):</p>

<ul>
	<li>Parent(s) of the child</li>
	<li>General education teacher(s), if applicable</li>
	<li>Special education teacher(s)</li>
	<li>A representative of the public agency who is qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities; is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum; and is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency</li>
	<li>An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results, who may be a member of the team</li>
	<li>Transition services participants, if applicable</li>
	<li>The child, as appropriate</li>
	<li>At the discretion of the parent or the agency, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child (like<strong> advocates or attorneys</strong>) and related services personnel (like <strong>school psychologists</strong>, <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/school-based-ots-boost-your-presentation-skills-for-successful">occupational</a> or physical therapists, adaptive PE teachers, or <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/slps-play-a-vital-role-on-the-iep-team">speech-language pathologists</a>)</li>
</ul>

<h2>Why Would Parents Bring an Advocate or Attorney to an IEP Meeting?</h2>

<p>In most cases, parents attend IEP meetings without hiring advocates or attorneys. However, parents sometimes seek the support of outside counsel if they feel they need professional assistance in:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Understanding and reviewing the IEP</li>
	<li>Navigating the special education system and accessing available resources</li>
	<li>Lessening emotions around what can be sensitive topics</li>
	<li>Pursuing services if a school district refuses to provide them</li>
	<li>Assisting with eligibility or placement decisions</li>
</ul>

<h2>What Is the Role of a School Psychologist in an IEP Meeting?</h2>

<p>Your role as a school psychologist, especially in a meeting when an advocate or attorney is present, may include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Presenting psychological testing results</li>
	<li>Interpreting how those results impact the educational setting</li>
	<li>Recommending strategies that may help the student better access the curriculum</li>
</ul>

<h2>What Should You AVOID Doing as a School Psychologist in an IEP Meeting?</h2>

<p>As a school psychologist, in an IEP meeting:</p>

<ul>
	<li>DO NOT make any references to recommended placements (as it can be construed as pre-determined placement)</li>
	<li>DO NOT just read the report aloud. Share the document and go over it &ndash; but have a conversation with the parents and team.</li>
	<li>DO NOT address the advocate or attorney. Instead, talk with the parent about the child.</li>
</ul>

<h2>What SHOULD you Do as a School Psychologist in an IEP Meeting?</h2>

<ul>
	<li>DO give the psych report to the team members (including parents) in advance so they can review it before the meeting.</li>
	<li>DO explain all results and recommendations in <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/who-dont-speak-english">language that is accessible</a>the parents.</li>
	<li>DO proofread all documents (especially if you use a template) to ensure they are error-free.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Additional Tips for School Psychologists in IEP Meetings with Advocates and Attorneys</h2>

<p>As you attend IEP meetings remember that all parties have the best interest of the child in mind. Veteran school psychologist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYCHD75E_T0" target="_blank">Rill Sheed</a> has several more tips from the field:</p>

<ol style="padding-left:20px">
	<li>Breathe, remain calm, and maintain your confidence.</li>
	<li>Remember that relevant data and information are your best friends, and focus on doing what&rsquo;s right for the student based on the data.</li>
	<li>Secure the purpose of the meeting ahead of time, and make sure everyone has an agenda.</li>
	<li>Ask if your district&rsquo;s legal counsel has been invited to the meeting and if they&rsquo;re attending.</li>
	<li>Make sure necessary team members are invited to the meeting.</li>
	<li>Familiarize yourself with district policy for audio recordings and meetings.</li>
	<li>Know your role in the meeting. Why were you invited? To provide data, to provide comfort and support?</li>
	<li>Ask colleagues if they&rsquo;ve met the advocate or attorney and can give you tips.</li>
	<li>Have reports prepared to present.</li>
	<li>Remain professional and don&rsquo;t take things personally.</li>
	<li>Stand your ground and establish boundaries when necessary. You don&rsquo;t have to take abuse. You can dismiss yourself from the table.</li>
	<li>Schedule and hold an informal premeeting or briefing.</li>
	<li>Listen to your legal counsel and let them do their job.</li>
</ol>

<p>While the first meeting you attend with an advocate or attorney present may be intimidating, you&rsquo;ll be much more confident if you&rsquo;re prepared. If things get heated, gently remind everyone that you&rsquo;re all present because you care about the child and want to ensure they have the resources they need to thrive in the school environment and beyond.</p>

<p>To learn where your specialized skills are needed helping kids in exciting locations across the country, check out our <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/education">school psychologist jobs</a> now.</p>


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