7 Clarifying Questions Teachers Should Ask at an IEP Meeting

Positive and productive IEP meetings lay the groundwork for better student outcomes, but when team opinions clash and emotions run high, a meeting can fall apart before you know it.  Sometimes, having a neutral third-party facilitator can make all the difference in the success of a meeting.  Being sure to have a facilitated IEP meeting helps to clarify points of agreement and disagreement.  It provides opportunities for team members to resolve conflicts if they arise, encourages parents and professionals to identify new options to address unresolved problems. 

The facilitator in an IEP meeting is trained in effective communication and ways to address and resolve conflict.  If you, or another team member, needs to be that facilitator, here are some clarifying questions that can be asked throughout the meeting to make sure that all team members are on the same page when it comes to the success of the student.

7 Clarifying Questions Teachers Should Ask at IEP Meetings

1. What would it look like if the team were to do that? – When in an IEP meeting, the special education teacher will discuss the goals for the student for the upcoming year (academic, functional and/or behavioral).  A good question to ask is what would it look like as the team were implementing this goal?  
2. You must have good reasons for thinking this – can you tell us them?
3. Can you say more about that – how might that address the issue at hand?
4. Where do you think that would lead?
5. What do you see happening if the team goes that route?
6. How might that be helpful?
7. What benefits could be expected if you did that?

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Asking these questions will ensure that all members of the meeting are on the same page and understand what the expected outcomes of the IEP are – especially the parents who most likely do not have a background in special education feeling overwhelmed with an IEP meeting. 

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