Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets

A tip sheet collection housed at CPIR
Developed collaboratively by six OSEP-funded technical assistance centers

April 2020

The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is honored to serve as the host for this collection of tip sheets on planning for and participating in virtual meetings, including those related to a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program). The tip sheets include:

• a sample agenda for a virtual IEP meeting, in English and Spanish,
• technology tips for all participants,
• suggestions for hosting a virtual meeting,
• tips for those participating in a virtual meeting, and
• an infographic about virtual IEP meetings, in English and in Spanish.

The centers involved in developing these resources are listed further below, and we are pleased to give you links to their websites, so you can explore what other resources they have to offer.

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IEP Meetings, Then and Now

Meetings to write, review, or revise a child’s IEP typically bring together a team of people who meet in person at least once a year. The IEP spells out the goals that a student with disabilities will focus on in the coming year, and the special education and related services that he or she will receive in support of reaching the goals. It’s very important that all required team memberstake part in developing that plan.

Now, holding an IEP team meeting (or most any meeting) in person is not advisable. Because of coronavirus, school closures, and social distancing, IEP teams are now meeting virtually, either in conference calls or via the Internet using web-based meeting platforms such as Zoom, Skype, or GotoMeeting. We hope the tip sheets you’ll find here will prove helpful to all who host or participate in virtual meetings, now and in the future.

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Download the Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets

There are several resources in this collection at present. Please do help yourself!

Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets in PDF format | This 6-page resource responds to requests from state and local educational agencies and parents about how to hold and participate in virtual IEP meetings. The package (also available in Word) includes:

• • Technology Tips for Participants (1 page);
  • Hosting Virtual IEP Meetings: Tips for Success (before, during, and after meeting suggestions);
  • Common Questions and Answers About Hosting Virtual IEP Meetings (1 page);
  • Participating in Virtual IEP Meetings: Tips for IEP Team Members (before, during, and after meeting suggestions; and
  • Common Questions and Answers About Participating in Virtual IEP Meetings

Sample Virtual Meeting Agenda (in English) | (Also available in Spanish.) | This 1-pager suggests an agenda for a 60-minute meeting; describes possible roles for members (e.g., timekeeper, facilitator); offers meeting norms; and lists six topics to cover during the meeting, facilitators for each topic, and how much time to devote to a topic.

Infographic: Participating in Virtual Meetings (in English) | (Infographic in Spanish.) |  This 1-page infographic applies to many kinds of special education meetings, including mediation, resolution sessions, and due process hearings. Includes technology tips, suggestions for what to do before the meeting, and participation tips.

While developed to meet a need during the current COVID-19 pandemic, these tip sheets will hopefully continue to be useful and relevant after the pandemic passes. Virtual meetings can be held for a wide variety of reasons. The skills involved in hosting or participating in a virtual meeting will remain important to have.

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The Collaboration Behind the Tip Sheets

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education spearheaded the collaboration of the six centers that developed these tip sheets. Each of the centers is OSEP-funded to provide technical assistance and needed expertise to the field. We are pleased to list the centers and link to their websites, where you can find incredible amounts of topic-specific expertise.

CADRE | The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
https://www.cadreworks.org/

CPIR | Center for Parent Information and Resources
https://www.parentcenterhub.org/

FND | Family Network on Disabilities
https://fndusa.org/

NCSI | National Center for Systemic Improvement
https://ncsi.wested.org/

PROGRESS Center at the American Institutes for Research
https://promotingprogress.org/

WI FACETS | Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support
https://wifacets.org/

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