Kansas IEP Meeting Checklist: What to Bring, Review, and Never Sign Without Checking

Walking into an IEP meeting unprepared means walking out having agreed to things you didn't fully understand. The school team consists of professionals who navigate this system every week. You deserve to come to the table prepared. Here's the checklist.

Before the Meeting

Verify the notice requirements were met Kansas law requires the school to give you written notice of the IEP meeting at least 10 days in advance. Confirm you received this in writing and that it included the meeting's purpose, time, location, and the school members who would be present. If you received inadequate notice, you can request a reschedule.

Request a draft IEP if available You have the right to review materials before the meeting. Ask for the draft IEP document in advance so you're not reading it cold at the table. Not all schools comply with this, but asking establishes your expectation.

Pull your child's current IEP Find the current services section. List every service by type, frequency, minutes per session, and setting. You'll use this to compare what was owed versus what's being proposed now.

Request service delivery records Before the annual review, request records showing what services were actually delivered during the past year. Compare this against the IEP. Gaps between what was owed and what was delivered may be a compensatory education issue to raise at the meeting.

Review progress reports on annual goals You should have received periodic progress reports on each IEP goal throughout the year (at minimum, as often as students receive report cards). Review these. For each goal, note: Was progress made? Was the goal met? If a goal hasn't been met, is the new draft carrying it forward or replacing it?

Prepare your questions in writing Write out your specific questions and concerns before the meeting. It's easy to get overwhelmed in the room. Having written notes keeps you on track.

Bring a support person if needed Under IDEA, parents can bring anyone they choose to an IEP meeting — a friend, a family member, an advocate, or even a private therapist who works with your child. Notify the school in advance if you're bringing someone, but you don't need their permission.

Set up your recording device Kansas is a one-party consent state under K.S.A. 21-6101. You can record the meeting without the school's knowledge or consent. Use your phone or a small digital recorder. Place it on the table. Verbal commitments made at the meeting that don't end up in the written document can otherwise become very difficult to dispute.

During the Meeting

Review who is present The IEP team must include: you, at least one general education teacher, at least one special education teacher or provider, an LEA representative with authority to commit district resources, and someone who can interpret evaluation results. If required members are absent, they must have signed a written excuse that you have agreed to. Note who is there and who is missing.

Listen actively to the PLAAFP The Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) is the baseline for all goals. Make sure it accurately reflects your child's current functioning — including areas of strength and need. The PLAAFP should reference recent evaluation data, progress monitoring, and your perspective as a parent. Ask where your input is reflected.

Review each annual goal For each proposed goal ask:

• What is the current baseline (what is my child doing now)?
• Is this goal ambitious enough to represent meaningful progress?
• How will progress be measured — by what data method?
• Who is responsible for collecting the data?
• How frequently will data be collected?

If a goal says something like "student will improve reading," ask for the specific criterion that defines success. "Improve reading" is not measurable.

Verify service minutes are specific Every service in the IEP must have a specific frequency (how many times per week), duration (how many minutes per session), and setting (where the service is delivered). "As needed" or "to be determined" are not acceptable service descriptions in Kansas. If vague language appears, ask the team to replace it with specific numbers before you leave.

Ask about the 25 Percent Rule if services are being reduced If the school is proposing to reduce any service by 25% or more, or change the educational environment by more than 25% of the school day, they must have your written consent. This is a Kansas-specific protection. Make sure you understand any reduction being proposed and know you can refuse to consent to it.

Ask about implementation

• Who specifically will deliver each service?
• In many Kansas districts, services are delivered by interlocal cooperative staff, not local school employees. Get names and ask how the school will ensure they're available.
• For students with behavior plans: ask who has been trained on the BIP and how consistency will be maintained with substitutes and support staff.

Discuss Extended School Year if relevant ESY services for summer are discussed as part of the IEP process. Kansas uses the 11-factor Johnson standard — not just regression and recoupment. If your child loses skills over breaks or is on the verge of mastering a critical skill, ESY should be on the table.

Before Signing

Never sign a document you haven't fully read You are not required to sign the IEP on the day of the meeting. You can say: "I'd like to take this home, review it, and follow up with any questions before I sign." The school cannot force you to sign on the spot.

Check for accuracy Verify that the document reflects what was actually discussed and agreed to in the meeting. Verbal commitments that aren't in the written document aren't commitments. If something was said in the meeting but doesn't appear in the IEP, ask for it to be added before you sign.

Note objections in writing If you sign to allow services to begin but disagree with specific provisions, note your disagreement. You can sign the consent page while also providing written notice that you object to specific goals or placements. Your signature authorizes services; it doesn't mean you endorse everything in the document.

Ask for your copy immediately You are entitled to a copy of the signed IEP. Ask for it at the meeting if possible, or confirm when it will be provided to you.

Set a follow-up Before you leave, ask how you'll receive progress updates on goals, who your primary contact is for questions, and what the process is if you notice services aren't being delivered as written.

The Kansas IEP & 504 Blueprint includes a printable version of this checklist plus Kansas-specific reference cards for the 25 Percent Rule, interlocal cooperative accountability, and KSDE dispute resolution options.

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