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Quick question re: IEP eligibility meeting

nomadicanomadica member
in Special Needs
I understand that I am, by law, supposed to receive copies of all evaluations 24 hours in advance of the meeting. I have received the S/L evaluation. In addition to that eval, two classroom observations were also done of DS in daycare (to look at social issues, etc). Are written reports of these observations included in my legal rights? I have asked for those reports several times, was told I would receive them, and still have not (the meeting is Wednesday). I'm not sure how pushy/persistant I have the right to be. Any info would really be appreciated!
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Re: Quick question re: IEP eligibility meeting

  • mommyof4boysmommyof4boys member

    What state do you live in?  It is different for each state but I can tell you, in NJ it is 10 days prior to the meeting.  You are within your rights to cancel the meeting until you have the information.

     

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  • nomadicanomadica member
    imagemommyof4boys:

    What state do you live in?  It is different for each state but I can tell you, in NJ it is 10 days prior to the meeting.  You are within your rights to cancel the meeting until you have the information.

     

    Oops, sorry, that is relevant info! I'm in MA. Our EI coordinator told us they are only required to give the evaluations 24 hours in advance, but she was unsure the laws for these daycare observations.

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  • mommyof4boysmommyof4boys member
    That is part of an evaluation so you should have it before the meeting.
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  • MaxandRubyMaxandRuby member

    I stated to each therapist the day of the evaluation that I wanted to have the reports at least 1 day prior to our original IEP meeting. One of the therapists seemed to have issue with that, and I sent out an email to the contact 2 days prior to the meeting requesting them again with a reminder that I had stated on X date it was requested and agreed to. They magically showed up that day and the next in my email inbox. I would ask them again and then state that you will need to reschedule the meeting if you do not receive them by X day. When I originally requested to receive them (in person on day of evals) I told them that I felt not being able to review them prior to the meeting would equate to the parent being blindsided by the reports and not being able to be fully prepared for the meeting....which would be unfair to the parent and would also put the parent on the defensive immediately which is not the best way to start a meeting that was supposed to be collaborative and/or being part of a team. That may not be verbatim but you get the idea and it was said after I met resistance from one of the therapists about it.

    Put your request in writing and tactfully state that the meeting will need to be rescheduled if the reports are not received in time.  And then cancel the meeting should this actually occur.  I don't know if you have a right to the daycare observations but wouldn't it be considered part of your child's medical record which is something you can request anyway?  Was it the school therapists that did the daycare evaluations? I'm simply not sure why you wouldn't be allowed to have a copy of those reports. 

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  • nomadicanomadica member
    imageMaxandRuby:

    I stated to each therapist the day of the evaluation that I wanted to have the reports at least 1 day prior to our original IEP meeting. One of the therapists seemed to have issue with that, and I sent out an email to the contact 2 days prior to the meeting requesting them again with a reminder that I had stated on X date it was requested and agreed to. They magically showed up that day and the next in my email inbox. I would ask them again and then state that you will need to reschedule the meeting if you do not receive them by X day. When I originally requested to receive them (in person on day of evals) I told them that I felt not being able to review them prior to the meeting would equate to the parent being blindsided by the reports and not being able to be fully prepared for the meeting....which would be unfair to the parent and would also put the parent on the defensive immediately which is not the best way to start a meeting that was supposed to be collaborative and/or being part of a team. That may not be verbatim but you get the idea and it was said after I met resistance from one of the therapists about it.

    Put your request in writing and tactfully state that the meeting will need to be rescheduled if the reports are not received in time.  And then cancel the meeting should this actually occur.  I don't know if you have a right to the daycare observations but wouldn't it be considered part of your child's medical record which is something you can request anyway?  Was it the school therapists that did the daycare evaluations? I'm simply not sure why you wouldn't be allowed to have a copy of those reports. 

    The team leader and a special ed teacher both did observations of DS in the daycare. I requested copies of reports of those observations both in person and by email (twice), was told I would receive them, and have not as of today. I'm not sure I'm within my rights to demand them, though I have certainly pestered them. I just read through the MA DOE IEP Process Guide, which was unhelpful and seemed only to say that sharing reports with the parents prior to the meeting is helpful, but not required. Argh!

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