Preparing Educators for the IEP
Overview
This collection provides educators and school leaders with practical tools to lead and participate in IEP meetings that are collaborative, efficient, and student-centered. It includes guides for establishing group norms, annotated agendas to support inclusive planning, and flyers to promote clarity around team roles and culturally responsive practices. Whether you’re an experienced administrator or a new team member, these resources support strong family-school partnerships and equity-driven decision-making in IEP settings.
TPE Alignment
- TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress.
- TPE 4.5 - Promote student success by providing opportunities for students to understand and advocate for strategies that meet their individual learning needs and assist students with specific learning needs to successfully participate in transition plans (e.g., IEP, IFSP, ITP, and 504 plans.)
- TPE 5.8 - Use assessment data, including information from students' IEP, IFSP, ITP, and 504 plans, to establish learning goals and to plan, differentiate, make accommodations and/or modify instruction.
- TPE 6.4 - Demonstrate how and when to involve other adults and to communicate effectively with peers and colleagues, families, and members of the larger school community to support teacher and student learning.
Navigating this Collection:
Printable Tools
Building on My Strengths (Educator Edition)
This flyer introduces the goals of High-Quality IEPs (HQIEPs) and provides an overview of resources aimed at helping educators build capacity for equity-driven IEP development. It emphasizes reflective practices, family partnerships, and clear communication. Designed for use in professional learning settings, this flyer helps teams align IEP work with inclusive values. TPE Alignment: TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress. TPE 4.5 - Promote ...
Creating Self-Awareness
This professional development resource supports administrative designees in preparing for their role during IEP meetings. It includes reflective questions, a checklist of responsibilities, and guidance on how to ensure meetings are compliant, collaborative, and culturally responsive. It’s a great resource for new administrators or those seeking to strengthen facilitation skills. TPE Alignment TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress. TPE 6.4 - Demonstrate how ...
RIOT Protocol
The RIOT flyer presents a helpful framework (Review, Interview, Observe, Test) for organizing student data during the special education referral or evaluation process. It highlights how each data source contributes to a comprehensive picture of student needs. Educators can use this framework to structure conversations and support defensible, data-informed decisions. TPE Alignment: TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress. TPE 4.5 - Promote student ...
Websites
Annotated Meeting Agenda
This annotated agenda walks educators through each stage of an IEP meeting with detailed notes and tips for facilitation. It includes guidance on language to use, how to create space for family voice, and suggestions for equity-based reflection. This tool is especially useful for administrators and case managers who lead IEP meetings. TPE Alignment: TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress. Navigating this Collection: HQ ...
Meeting Norms List
This one-page handout offers a simple list of suggested meeting norms to support productive and respectful IEP meetings. Designed to be used or adapted by IEP teams, the list includes examples like listening actively, being on time, and assuming positive intent. Teams can use this list to set shared expectations at the beginning of each meeting. TPE Alignment: TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and ...
Meeting Norms Sample
This example shows how meeting norms might be presented visually during a real IEP or team meeting. It can be used as a template or inspiration for schools looking to create their own team-specific norms. TPE Alignment: TPE 1.2 - Maintain ongoing communication with students and families, including the use of technology to communicate with and support students and families, and to communicate achievement expectations and student progress. TPE 6.4 - Demonstrate how and when to involve other adults and to communicate effectively with peers and colleagues, families, ...