To develop an IEP, you will have assistance from the Planning and Placement Team (PPT).  As a parent, you are an integral part of the team that can shed light on the personal specific needs of your child. Alongside yourself, the PPT will consist of at least one of your child’s regular education teachers, at least one of your child’s special education teachers, related service providers such as a therapist, and someone from the school district such as the Director of Special Education.

Pre-PPT Meeting Planning

Before you meet with the PPT to develop your child’s IEP, there is some significant planning that should be done.  For instance, parents are encouraged to do the following before their child’s IEP meeting:

  • Talk to your child about their thoughts and feelings about school
  • Make a list of your child’s strengths and weaknesses and set realistic goals for the school year
  • Ask for a copy of your child’s school records and review them carefully, you have a right to receive a free copy upon 5 days advance written request
  • Make sure all necessary evaluations have been completed
  • Think about inviting professionals who will support your suggestions about your child’s IEP or placement
  • Make a written plan of what you are going to say in the meeting
  • Record the meeting either visually or with a tape recorder

Post-PPT Meeting IEP

After the meeting, the IEP for your child will be developed and should include most, if not all, of the following elements:

  • The present level of education and functional performance
  • Measurable educational goals and objectives
  • Evaluation procedures and performance criteria
  • Accommodations your child needs to participate in general education curriculum
  • Special education needs and related services
  • The date services will begin and end
  • The length of the school day and year
  • Recommended instructional settings
  • A description of how your child will take statewide tests
  • Transitional goals

Once this plan is developed and submitted, it generally will not be changed without participating in another PPT meeting.  However, in some situations, changes may be made without a PPT meeting if you and the school agree to them.  After the plan is developed, the PPT will recommend placement in a special education program and related services. Such placement could include regular classes with supportive aids, special classes, special schools, your home, a hospital, and residential programs.  In Connecticut, each special education child will be placed in the “least restrictive environment” possible for a beneficial education.

Finally, your child must be reevaluated once every three years, unless you and the school agree otherwise; before any significant change in placement; and before a determination is made that your child is no longer eligible for special education.

Maya Murphy P.C. has proudly been included in the 2024 Edition of Best Law Firms®, ranked among the top firms in the nation. In addition, Managing Partner Joseph C. Maya has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for his work in Employment Law and Education Law in Connecticut. Recognition in Best Lawyers® is awarded to firms and attorneys who demonstrate excellence in the industry, and is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor.

Our firm in Westport, Connecticut serves clients with legal assistance all over the state, including the towns of: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Branford, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Darien, Derby, East Haven, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Middlebury, Milford, Monroe, Naugatuck, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Haven, Newton, North Branford, North Haven, Norwalk, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Redding, Ridgefield, Seymour, Shelton, Sherman, Southbury, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Wallingford, Waterbury, West Haven, Weston, Westport, Wilton, and Woodbridge. In addition to assisting clients in Connecticut, our firm handles education law and employment law matters in New York as well. 

If you have any questions about employment law or education law in Connecticut, or would like to speak to an attorney about a legal matter, please contact Joseph C. Maya and the other experienced attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. at (203) 221-3100 or JMaya@Mayalaw.com to schedule a free initial consultation today.