What to Bring to an IEP Meeting
A practical packing list for your next IEP meeting, plus the one document most parents forget to bring.
Walking into an IEP meeting can feel overwhelming, but preparation changes everything. When you have the right documents in front of you, you can focus on what matters most: making sure your child's plan truly fits their needs.
The essentials
- Your child's current IEP draft and the most recent signed IEP for comparison
- Evaluation reports, progress notes, and recent work samples
- Medical or therapy records that support accommodations
- A written list of your child's strengths, needs, and goals
- Questions you want answered — written out so nothing gets forgotten
- A contact log of recent emails and calls with the team
The document most parents forget
The one thing I see parents leave at home? A one-page parent input statement. This is your chance to put your child's strengths, challenges, and what works at home into your own words. It carries weight because you are the expert on your child.
Want a printable version?
Download my free IEP Meeting Checklist for a 3-page prep guide you can take with you.
A few days before the meeting
Review the draft IEP, mark anything that doesn't feel right, and email your questions to the team ahead of time. Arriving with written questions signals that you're prepared — and helps keep the meeting focused on your child.
Quick tip
Bring two copies of everything: one for you and one to share. If a team member hasn't seen a recent therapy report, you can hand it over in the moment.