The start of a new school year brings fresh supplies, new teachers, and a clean slate. For parents of children with IEPs, it also brings uncertainty. Will accommodations actually be implemented? Will the new teacher understand your child? Will this finally be the year your child gets the support they deserve?
The good news is that a little preparation before the first day of school can make a big difference.
Here are my favorite back-to-school IEP tips, including a few that most parents have never considered.
1. Read Your Child’s IEP Before School Starts
This sounds obvious, but many parents don’t revisit the IEP until something goes wrong.
Take 20-30 minutes to read it from beginning to end and ask yourself:
- Are all accommodations still appropriate?
- Do the goals still reflect my child’s current needs?
- Are there supports my child has outgrown?
- Is anything missing?
If something feels off, trust your instincts. The beginning of the school year is a great time to request an IEP meeting rather than waiting until progress stalls.
2. Refresh Your Child on Their Accommodations
Many students don’t realize they can advocate for themselves.
Spend time reviewing accommodations in age-appropriate language.
Examples include:
- “You can ask for extra time.”
- “You can ask for your notes.”
- “You can request a break.”
- “You can use your graphic organizer.”
- “You don’t have to be embarrassed to ask for what helps you learn.”
The goal isn’t to make your child responsible for enforcing the IEP. The school is still legally responsible. But teaching self-advocacy is an important life skill.
3. Send a Friendly “Getting to Know My Child” Email
Teachers receive dozens of IEPs.
They appreciate learning about the child behind the paperwork.
Keep your email positive and brief. Include:
- Your child’s strengths
- Interests and motivators
- What helps when they’re frustrated
- A few accommodations that make the biggest difference
- Your preferred communication method
This creates a collaborative relationship before problems arise.
4. Create a One-Page Cheat Sheet
This is one of my favorite “outside the box” strategies.
Make a one-page summary that includes:
- Medical information
- Allergies
- Preferred name or pronouns
- Biggest triggers
- Successful calming strategies
- Communication preferences
- Top accommodations
Believe it or not, but not all staff gets copies of your child’s IEP in a timely manner, yes this includes the teacher. Often times for privacy reasons, the school is handing out an IEP summary and this might not include the things YOU think are important for new people to know about your child. This cheat sheet created by you is much easier for staff to reference than searching through a 30-page IEP.
5. Practice School Routines Before the First Day
Transitions are difficult for many students with disabilities.
A week before school begins:
- Wake up at school time.
- Practice the morning routine.
- Drive or walk to school.
- Visit the playground if possible.
- Review pictures of the building.
Reducing anxiety before the first day often prevents bigger problems later.
6. Ask Yourself One Important Question
Instead of asking:
“Is my child doing okay?”
Ask:
“What barriers might prevent my child from accessing their education this year?” or “What were the barriers from last year that we don’t want to carry over this year?”
This small mindset shift often helps parents identify supports before struggles become major concerns.
7. Start a Documentation Folder
Don’t wait until there’s a disagreement.
Create a folder now for:
- Emails
- Progress reports
- Work samples
- Behavior reports
- Meeting notes
Good documentation tells the story over time and makes advocating much easier if concerns arise. Some parents even create a separate email account just for school communications and I LOVE this idea.
8. Schedule a Calendar Reminder for Six Weeks
Don’t wait until report cards when progress reports come
Set a reminder about six weeks into school to ask yourself:
- Are accommodations being implemented consistently?
- Has communication been effective?
- Are goals being addressed?
- Is my child making meaningful progress?
Small concerns are much easier to address early.
9. Watch for “Invisible” Accommodations
Some accommodations are easy to notice. Others are not.
Ask yourself:
- Is the teacher actually providing visual supports?
- Is preferential seating happening consistently?
- Is extra processing time being honored?
- Is assistive technology being used?
Many accommodations quietly disappear over time without anyone realizing it.
10. Don’t Assume Your IEP Is Perfect
Here’s something most parents don’t hear:
An IEP can be legally compliant and still not be a strong IEP.
Many IEPs contain vague accommodations, goals that aren’t measurable, missing supports, or language that unintentionally limits services.
That doesn’t necessarily mean anyone did something wrong. It simply means there may be opportunities to strengthen the plan before problems arise.
A Fresh Set of Eyes Can Make All the Difference
As a professional special education advocate, one of the most common things I hear is:
“I wish I had known this before the school year started.”
That’s exactly why I offer comprehensive IEP Reviews.
During your review, you’ll receive:
✅ A complete review of your child’s current IEP
✅ Three personalized, actionable recommendations to strengthen the plan
✅ Suggested language you can use when requesting each change
No legal jargon. No guesswork. Just practical recommendations you can immediately take back to your IEP team.
Back-to-School Special
For a limited time, IEP Reviews are $127 (regularly $147).
For less than the cost of many tutoring sessions, you’ll know exactly what could be improved before the school year gets into full swing.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this really the best IEP my child could have?” this is the easiest way to find out.
Because the best time to strengthen an IEP isn’t after months of frustration.
It’s before the school year begins.
