California IEP Meeting Prep Checklist

Start here to give yourself enough time to request documents and review them.

• Request a copy of your child's current IEP from the school if you don't already have one.
• Request copies of all recent evaluation reports — psychoeducational, speech/language, OT, PT, behavior, and any others.
• Ask for the district's draft IEP or proposed goals in advance. California districts are not required to share a draft, but many will if you ask.
• Gather any private evaluations or reports you've obtained outside of the school system.
• Review your child's progress reports from the current IEP year. Are goals being met? Is the data being tracked?
• Write down your parent concerns in writing and submit them to the school before the meeting — this puts them in the official record.
• Review the Procedural Safeguards Notice you received. Know your rights going in.

• Confirm the meeting date, time, location, and which team members will be present.
• Arrange for a support person to attend with you if possible — a spouse, friend, advocate, or anyone familiar with your child.
• If English is not your primary language, request an interpreter — the district is required to provide one at no cost.
• Write your list of questions and priorities for the meeting. Don't rely on memory in the room.
• Prepare a brief summary of your child's strengths to share — the IEP should reflect the whole child, not just deficits.
• Check whether any previous IEP commitments were followed through on. If services were promised but not delivered, note it.

• Your current IEP document (annotated with your notes and questions).
• Copies of any private evaluation reports or medical records you want the team to consider.
• Your written parent concerns (if you haven't submitted them yet, bring copies for everyone).
• A notepad to take notes during the meeting — or a phone to record with permission.
• A list of the services, accommodations, and goals you are hoping for.
• Contact information for any outside providers working with your child.

• Ask clarifying questions whenever you hear a term you don't understand. You are entitled to a clear explanation.
• Take notes — or ask permission to record. Designate your support person as note-taker if possible.
• Ask to see data supporting any claims about your child's progress or performance.
• Do not feel pressured to sign the IEP document at the meeting. You can take it home, review it, and sign within a reasonable time.
• If you disagree with a proposed service or placement, say so clearly. Your disagreement must be documented.
• Before leaving, confirm the next steps: who will do what, and by when.

• Review the final IEP document carefully before signing. Make sure everything discussed in the meeting is reflected accurately.
• If any verbal commitments were made that aren't in the document, ask for them to be added before you sign.
• Keep copies of everything — the signed IEP, all evaluation reports, and your notes.
• Set a reminder to check in on goal progress at the first progress report due date.
• If you disagree with any part of the IEP, you can sign to consent to some parts while noting your disagreement with others.

For more on your rights during and after the meeting, visit the Know Your Rights page. For free downloadable checklists, see the Free IEP Checklist PDF.