Arizona IEP Meeting Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After

You have an IEP meeting scheduled and you want to go in prepared rather than overwhelmed. Most Arizona parents leave their first IEP meeting feeling like they didn't understand half of what was said and aren't sure what they agreed to. These steps change that.

Before the Meeting

Request the draft IEP and evaluation reports at least 5 days in advance. You are entitled to review the IEP before the meeting. The district does not have to send it to you unsolicited, but if you ask, they must provide it. An email to the special education coordinator five to seven days before the meeting asking for the draft IEP and any evaluation reports to be reviewed is reasonable and appropriate. If they say they "don't have a draft yet," that's a flag — a good team works from a draft, not a blank document at the table.

Review the present levels section carefully. The present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) section is the foundation of the IEP. Every goal should connect back to something described in present levels. If the PLAAFP is vague or doesn't match your child's actual performance, the goals built on it will be inadequate.

Know who must be at the meeting. Under A.A.C. R7-2-401, Arizona requires all of these team members: you (the parent), at least one of your child's general education teachers, the special education teacher, an LEA representative (a district employee who has authority to commit district resources — not just any administrator), someone who can interpret evaluation results, and the child when appropriate (especially for transition planning at age 14+).

If a required team member is absent without your written consent, the meeting has a procedural defect. You can note this at the start of the meeting. If the absent member is critical to the decisions being made, you can request that the meeting be rescheduled.

Bring your own documentation. Bring report cards, work samples, teacher notes, outside therapy reports, and any notes you've kept about your child's school experience. Your observations as a parent are data. They should inform the present levels and the goals.

Prepare your questions in writing. Write out your concerns and questions before the meeting. It is easy to get off track or feel rushed in a room full of professionals. Your written list keeps you anchored.

During the Meeting

Ask about every service and how it will be delivered. For each service listed in the IEP (speech therapy twice a week, 30 minutes each), ask: Who will deliver this service? Where will it be delivered (pull-out, push-in, separate setting)? What are the provider's qualifications? Arizona's speech-language pathologist shortage is real — your child's SLP minutes are only meaningful if there is a qualified SLP to deliver them.

Verify that goals are measurable. Every goal must have a condition, an observable behavior, measurable criteria, and an evaluation schedule. If a goal says "Alex will improve reading fluency," that is not compliant. Ask the team: "How will we know when this goal is met? What data will be collected and how often?"

Understand the placement proposal. The IEP must specify the least restrictive environment (LRE) where your child can receive FAPE. If the team is proposing a more restrictive setting (resource room, self-contained class, separate school), they must explain why less restrictive settings are not appropriate. You have the right to ask for this explanation.

Ask about related services. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and transportation are examples of related services that must be included if your child needs them to benefit from special education. The team should address all areas of need, not just academics.

Do not feel pressured to sign at the meeting. You can take the IEP home to review. You can ask for time to consult with Raising Special Kids (RSK) or another parent advocate before signing. A school that tells you the IEP must be signed today is creating pressure that is not legally required.

Take notes or bring a note-taker. You can record IEP meetings in Arizona — but you must notify the district in advance. A written request to the principal before the meeting saying you intend to bring a recording device is sufficient. Many parents prefer to take notes instead, which is simpler and less adversarial.

What to Do If You Disagree

If you disagree with any part of the proposed IEP, you have three options that are not mutually exclusive:

1. State your disagreement at the meeting and ask for it to be documented. Most Arizona IEP documents have a section for parent comments or concerns. Use it. If the form doesn't have one, write your specific disagreements and give the team a copy.

2. Sign "consent to placement" only, not full agreement. You can consent to the placement (your child starts receiving services) while disagreeing with specific goals or service amounts. Note this clearly in writing on the signature page or in a follow-up email.

3. Send a follow-up email within 24 hours. After the meeting, email the special education coordinator summarizing your specific disagreements and what you are requesting the team to address. This creates a dated record.

After the Meeting

Verify that services begin as scheduled. Services must begin within a reasonable time after the IEP is finalized and consent is given. If your child's speech therapy doesn't start within the first two to three weeks of the IEP year, ask in writing when it will begin.

Review the first progress report. Arizona requires progress reports at least as often as report cards — typically quarterly. The first report is your early warning system. If progress data is vague or shows no movement toward goals, address it at the first quarter rather than waiting for the annual review.

Request an IEP review if something changes. You can request an IEP review at any time if you believe the current IEP is not meeting your child's needs. The district has 45 school days to hold the review once you submit a written request.

The Arizona IEP & 504 Blueprint includes a complete Arizona IEP meeting checklist, a draft IEP review rubric, and template language for documenting disagreements — so you go into every meeting knowing exactly what to look for and what to say.

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