An Introduction to Student-Led IEP Meetings

I saw a meme this past Sunday that said I just spent the last two weeks pretending I had retired and I think I screwed up . And I am telling you , when I was setting my alarm for 545 am on Monday I am not sure that there's ever been a meme that has hit me so hard I definitely felt called out . It was so difficult to get up Monday morning .

We actually had a late start , as I'm sure many of you across the states have had either late starts or snow days . Some of you may not even be back at school yet , so I hope that you're enjoying your snow days .

But I am back in the swing of things and I am so excited to be starting another year of the podcast to support you , and I cannot wait to see where the podcast and the SPED Prep Academy take me this year . So , speaking of 2025 , I want to share with you what this year's podcast episodes will look like .

After having Paul as my co-host for two years , we made the decision to end those episodes and so , when I was trying to decide the direction I wanted the podcast to take , I decided that having a different topic each week was great and it had served me well , and I feel like we covered a whole lot of different topics and I hope that that was supportive to

you . But I thought that if I chose a topic for the whole month , it would allow me to go deeper and provide more insight and more strategies and more resources for you on that particular topic or theme . Therefore , the 2025 format will be based on 12 different themes . The 2025 format will be based on 12 different themes .

This month's theme is student-led IEPs , and I intentionally chose to focus on student-led IEPs to kick off the new year because , as we all know , the start of a new year is a symbolic time of new beginnings and fresh approaches .

It is time to try something new , and what a better way to try something new than to learn how to empower our students by putting them at the forefront of their own educational planning . But before we get to the episode , I want to offer a special opportunity for interested special education teachers .

As an instructional coach , I want to expand my services outside of my district to begin providing coaching calls to help you grow as an educator . These calls are designed to offer personalized guidance , practical strategies and an opportunity to ask questions or address challenges you might be facing .

If you are looking to deepen your understanding of special education or enhance your own practice , I have 12 free coaching slots open for listeners of the podcast . You just need to go to wwwspedprepacademycom slash coach me and use the coupon code podcast . Again , that's spedprepacademycom slash coachme . C-o-a-c-h-m-e all one word and the coupon code is podcast .

So make sure and hurry up and sign up for one of the 12 free spots . Hey , special educator , are you overwhelmed by the absurd amount of paperwork on your to-do list ? Do you wish you had the skills to build a rock solid team with your staff ? Do you find yourself scouring the internet for how to meet the needs of each student on your caseload ?

Well , hey there . I'm Jennifer Hopperberg , an award-winning veteran special education teacher and current instructional coach , who has walked in your shoes through each of these challenges and yes , I have the metaphorical blisters to prove it . I have cried your tears and felt your pain .

And now I'm here to support you in the way I wish someone would have been there to support me .

Listen in each week as my guests and I dish out practical wisdom to help you handle all the classroom curveballs that are thrown at you and learn how to laugh in spite of the chaos , to celebrate those small yet significant victories that only a special educator can understand . So are you ready ?

Wipe your tears and put on your superhero cape , because together we are going to learn how to survive and thrive in the ever crazy , completely overwhelming laugh , so you don't cry . Profession of being a special education teacher . So , student-led IEPs what are they ?

Well , today we are giving a breakdown of what a student-led IEP is , why they are important , and then next week we will be chatting with a guest who has implemented student-led IEPs on a regular basis important . And then next week we will be chatting with a guest who has implemented student-led IEPs on a regular basis .

And then we'll continue with the theme for the last two episodes of the month of January , with a resource for you to start implementing student-led IEPs . And then we'll chat with a colleague of mine who has implemented them in my district and how it's going for her . So we have a lot to cover . Let's get started for her . So we have a lot to cover .

Let's get started . Okay , picture this A young student sits at a table surrounded by adults . The room is buzzing with discussion about grades , behavioral expectations , learning objectives , cognitive levels you know all of those things that we talk about at an IEP meeting . And as each professional takes their turn , the student's eyes remain focused on the table .

They are a passive participant in a meeting that's supposed to center around them and their educational future . Goals are set without their input , strategies are discussed without their nod . It's a scenario far too common , yet entirely preventable with student-led IEPs . So why should we put students in charge of their IEP meetings ?

And by putting them in charge , I'm not saying that they are entirely responsible for the whole thing . Instead , they will be an active participant . It's all about empowerment , and starting out slowly is okay . If you've never done these before , that's entirely okay .

Again , I picked this to go with the new year because I'm the type of person who doesn't do New Year's resolutions because I know I'm not going to stick with something for an entire year , but I am the type of person who wants to always try new things , and this is the perfect time to approach student led IEPs with some excitement and some curiosity to see how

these could play out in your school . And so the level of student participation in IEP meetings can vary greatly depending on a student's age , their maturity , their comfort with the process , their cognitive level , and you can expect participation to differ across various stages .

Student-led IEP meetings are not just for high school students this is where it is seen the most but I have also seen it be very successful at the middle school level , and even at the elementary level . Teachers are becoming more intentional about ensuring the student is actively participating in their meetings . So let's look at the elementary level .

At this level , student participation is generally more guided . Younger students might contribute by sharing personal reflections about what they like their favorite subject in school . They might discuss their favorite activities . Teachers and parents play a significant role in facilitating these discussions and help students articulate their thoughts In the middle school .

Students at this stage can take on more responsibility . In their IEP meetings they might begin to discuss their learning challenges and their successes more in depth . They might participate in setting some of their educational goals or choosing some of their accommodations .

Middle schoolers are also encouraged to start leading parts of those meetings , such as introducing themselves and explaining their interests . And then , in high school , is where students often take on a central role in their IEP meetings .

They can prepare and deliver comprehensive presentations , they can set detailed educational and personal goals and they can lead most of the discussion . This level of participation is crucial as it prepares them for self-advocacy in post-secondary education and beyond .

At each level of participation is tailored to the developmental stage of the student , ensuring that they are both comfortable and challenged in their role , and this gradual increase in responsibility helps build confidence and skills over time .

So as we explore student-led IEPs throughout this month , we will discuss how to adapt strategies for different ages and levels of student readiness , ensuring that every student can benefit from this empowering approach .

When students lead their meetings , when they are more than just a warm body in the room whom everyone is talking about and no one is talking to , they get to develop and flex those self-advocacy muscles . They get to talk about what they need , what's working for them , what's not working for them and what they want to achieve in life .

It's amazing to see the confidence and leadership skills they build along the way , but unfortunately , implementing student-led IEPs is not something that is going to happen overnight , and that's okay . Again , that's why I chose to share this with you at the beginning of the year .

It's not the beginning of a new school year when you have so many other things on your plate .

I'm sharing about it at a time when , hopefully , you have a little breathing room and you can dedicate the necessary time to dig in , to fully understand and integrate this approach into your practice , and because we are going to go into more depth into these meetings throughout the month .

Today I just want to give you a broad overview of what a student-led IEP involves before , during and after an actual meeting . So before the meeting , preparation is key . The student , with the help of educators and possibly parents , will learn about the IEP process and their own educational needs .

They will receive coaching on how to express their goals , their preferences and their concerns . They will need help with the tools like role playing or creating some visual aids such as presentations that can help students prepare to lead the discussion . And then , just like with anything else , you're going to want to practice before that meeting .

You don't want the student going in without having any type of practice or any type of understanding of what's going , what it's going to look like . You don't want to put them in there cold , so make sure that you're practicing before the meeting and preparing them for what the expectations are going to be .

And then , during the meeting , the student will take the lead as their cognitive level , their maturity level , their grade level will allow , and it will be guided by a structured agenda that they can often help create .

They will present their achievements , their challenges , their accommodations , they will help set their educational goals , and then educators and parents will actively listen , but they can also support and facilitate when necessary . Ensuring the student remains the focal point of the meeting . And then , after the meeting , it's really important to reflect and follow up .

The student and their support team can review how the meeting went , what was achieved and what could be improved . They will also plan how the goals that were set during the meeting will be implemented and monitored . This step is crucial for ensuring the student-led IEP is a living document that truly guides the student's education .

Integrating student-led IEPs into your teaching approach doesn't just change how meetings are conducted . It truly transforms the entire educational experience for your students by placing them at the center of the IEP process . We are fostering a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for their own learning journeys .

So , as we start this new year , I hope that you feel inspired to embrace this innovative approach to focus on empowering your students to take part in shaping their educational path . So thank you so much for joining me today .

I'm so thrilled about the direction the podcast is taking with the 12 different themes , and I challenge you to start this year off by implementing some type of student-led IEPs . Remember , every small step you take towards empowering your students is a step towards their greater independence and success . Isn't that why we do this job to begin with ?

To help our students see independence and success later in life . See you next week for more insights and tools to help you make this transition smooth and impactful .