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How to Prepare for a PPT Meeting An Article for Parents by Kevin Daly
A note to visitors from out of state: In Connecticut our IEP meetings are called Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings.
Introduction
Parents: the key to a successful PPT meeting is doing your homework. If you come to a PPT meeting fully prepared and ready to do business, you will be empowered. And you will be a better advocate for your child.
School Records
This is one of the most important things a parent can do to prepare for a PPT meeting: get a copy of your child’s school records. And read them.
Do you know you can get a free copy of your child’s school records just by asking? Thanks to a Federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under FERPA, parents have the right to obtain a free copy of their child’s school records. This right exists until the child reaches age 18. FERPA is a powerful law that gives parents many other rights relating to school records as well. The U.S. Department of Education has a useful web site about FERPA which you can access if you click here. Ask your school principal or the administrator on your child's PPT team for a copy of your child’s school records. It is important to make this request in writing. Specifically, ask for a full copy of your child’s "cumulative file" and "special education file". The cumulative file will contain attendance records, report cards and other general education records going back to when your child began school. The special education file will contain PPT paperwork, special education evaluations and other records going back to when your child was first considered for special education.
When you get the records, sort them in chronological order starting at the beginning. Then read the records. It may take a while. But it is worth the effort.
Evaluations
Pay close attention to the special education evaluations in the school records. Evaluations are critical. They are the basis for most the decisions that affect your child’s special education. If new evaluations will be discussed at the PPT meeting, ask to have the evaluations provided to you in advance so you can study them. It is quite possible you will need to find someone who is knowledgeable about special education to explain the evaluations to you.
Your Notebook
It is a good idea to keep all the school records in one place. Get a large 3-ring loose-leaf notebook and a paper punch. Put the records in the notebook in chronological order. As time goes by and new records are generated, keep adding them to your notebook. Every time you send a note or a letter to the school, put a copy in your notebook. Any correspondence you receive from the school should be kept there as well. You could even put samples of your child’s schoolwork in your notebook. Be creative.
When you read your child’s school records, questions will probably arise. Make a list of your questions and keep the list handy. You will need it when you prepare your agenda for the PPT meeting.
Your Agenda
Parents should come to every PPT meeting with a written agenda. That is, a list of the topics the parents want the PPT team to address.
Think about what you want to accomplish during the PPT meeting. Do you need to ask for something? Do you have questions? Is there a problem you want the team to resolve?
Several days before the PPT meeting, write up a list of your questions and concerns. This list is your agenda for the meeting. Bring copies of your agenda to the meeting and give one to every member on the team before the meeting begins.
When you write your agenda, keep it pithy. Do not go into much detail. A well written agenda should take no more than a minute to read. Let the details come out during the meeting. Put your name and your child’s name at the top of the agenda along with the date, time and location of the PPT meeting.
Be sure to ask to have a copy of your agenda added to the permanent record of the PPT meeting. It is your right under FERPA and your request cannot be refused. To see a sample PPT agenda click here.
Strategy
Preparing an agenda is a great way to gather your thoughts. But do not wait until the last minute. Write your agenda and put it away for a day or two. Think about it for a while. Forget it for a while. Then read it later. You will probably find ways to improve your agenda.
When it is ready, send your agenda to the case manager or the administrator on your child's PPT team. Include a note asking to forward your agenda to team members so they will be prepared to respond to your concerns at the meeting.
Properly handled, your agenda will be a simple and non-confrontational way to notify your child's PPT team about the topics you want to discuss during the meeting. Your agenda has another benefit as well. If time runs out and the meeting ends before all your agenda items are addressed, the need to schedule a follow-up meeting in order to finish the business at hand will be obvious to everyone.
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