10 Questions Every Parent Should Ask During an IEP Meeting in San Diego
Why IEP Meetings Matter
Navigating your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure which questions will help you get the right support in place. Parents often worry about saying the wrong thing or missing an opportunity to advocate for services their child needs.
At SoCal Child Psychology in La Jolla, we help families across San Diego prepare for IEP meetings by connecting psychological testing results to meaningful school supports. With the right questions, you can feel more confident and walk away knowing your child is set up for success.
10 Questions Every Parent Should Ask During an IEP Meeting
How are my child’s strengths being included in the IEP?
IEPs aren’t just about challenges, they also highlight strengths in your child and family. During the IEP meeting, ask about how your child’s strengths are included in the learning plan. It’s common for IEP meetings to start off by talking about any strengths that your child has and the ways in which they have seen your child grow.
What specific accommodations will be provided in the classroom?
Accommodations are changes to an environment that reduce a barrier to learning or getting work done. It’s important to understand what accommodations are, and how they might support your child at school. While they don’t change what your child is learning in school, they do change how they are learning information.
Accommodations are created to reduce the way in which your child’s disability is impacting their educational experience, including learning and social-emotional outcomes at school. For example, if your child was diagnosed with ADHD, they may get distracted in a regular classroom while taking a test. An accommodation to address that challenge may be to allow for testing in a less distracting environment.
Accommodations might include extra time on tests, seating near the teacher, or access to assistive technology. Ask for details so you understand exactly what will be in place. It’s also important for it to be described who will be implementing each accommodation, or if it is something that your child will need to ask for.
How will progress toward goals be measured?
When your child’s IEP team is meeting, they will be setting annual goals. Goals need to be measurable, and they also need to be attainable. How can you know if your child’s IEP goals are good? A big part is looking at the testing that was done and your child’s baseline performance. The baseline performance is where your child is at right now, and the IEP team can use this information to set good IEP goals.
If you are confused on how a goal is written, ask the team to explain how the goal will be measured. Clarify how teachers will track and communicate your child’s progress throughout the school year. When you are reading your child’s goals, ask yourself, “Is this specific enough?” or would I be confused on how my child will reach this goal.
How often will I receive updates?
Regular updates help you stay involved and prevent surprises. IEP meetings occur once a year, but there may be ways in which the teachers and support staff will provide you with additional information throughout the year on your child’s progress, such as through progress reports and report cards.
What services will my child receive, and who will provide them?
Services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, or specialized academic instruction. Knowing who provides them ensures accountability. The amount of services that your child receives may be written as a number of minutes or hours throughout the entire school year. You can ask about if there is a particular schedule in which your child will receive services, or if it is flexible.
What supports will be provided outside of academics?
School and IEPs aren’t always just about academics. Children may need social, emotional, or behavioral support as well. They may be listed within the IEP as a separate goal, for which there are services that are offered to reach that goal.
What happens if my child isn’t making progress?
This question helps you understand what the next steps will be if goals aren’t being met. Whether it is revising the IEP, adding services, or requesting new testing to help clarify why your child isn’t meeting their goals, this will help you and your child’s team stay on track.
How will substitute teachers be involved?
If your child has a substitute teacher, or if there is a teacher that is filling in for a teacher on an extended maternity leave, ask the team about how to receive accommodations and/or services when the primary teacher is not there.
How do the testing results connect to the supports being offered?
If your child recently had psychological testing, this is a key question. During the initial IEP meeting, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals may have a written report that describes an assessment that they did of your child’s abilities across a variety of areas. These professionals will typically provide an overview of what these findings mean and the reason for services as a result of these assessments.
What can I do at home to support the IEP?
Parents are essential partners in the IEP process. Ask teachers and providers for strategies you can use at home to reinforce what your child is working on at school. Your child’s success at school will depend on a team approach in which you and the school are working together to support your child at home.
How Psychological Testing Supports IEP Success
Psychological testing provides a clear picture of your child’s cognitive strengths, academic skills, and emotional needs. In San Diego, parents often use evaluation results to request new services, clarify diagnoses like ADHD or dyslexia, and secure appropriate accommodations.
Why Parents Pursue a Private Psychological Evaluation
Many families choose to schedule a private psychological evaluation before going through the school district. This type of testing is considered a medical evaluation, which means it can provide a comprehensive clinical understanding of your child’s learning, attention, and emotional profile. Private evaluations often:
Provide more in-depth testing than what schools are able to offer.
Identify conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety that may not be the primary focus of a school assessment.
Deliver results faster, so parents don’t have to wait through the lengthy school evaluation timeline.
Offer actionable recommendations not only for school, but also for home and therapy.
Why the School Still Needs to Do Their Own Assessment
It’s important to note that even after a private evaluation, the school is legally required to conduct its own assessment to determine special education eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While schools must consider private testing, they use their own evaluations to confirm whether a child qualifies for an IEP.
This is why many parents pursue both:
A private evaluation (medical, clinical perspective → diagnosis and broad recommendations).
A school evaluation (educational perspective → IEP eligibility and services).
When combined, these two approaches give the most complete picture of your child’s needs and ensure no part of their support system is overlooked.
At SoCal Child Psychology in La Jolla, our evaluations are designed to complement the school’s process—helping you walk into the IEP meeting with data-driven recommendations and the confidence to advocate for your child.
Learn more about our psychological testing services in San Diego.
Walking Into Your Next IEP With Confidence
Your child’s IEP meeting is one of the most important opportunities to advocate for their academic and emotional success. By asking the right questions, you ensure that the plan is not just a document, but a roadmap to helping your child thrive.
If you’re preparing for an IEP and want guidance rooted in professional evaluation, our team at SoCal Child Psychology in La Jolla is here to help. We offer psychological testing and child therapy for ADHD, anxiety, and ARFID for children and teens across San Diego, empowering families to navigate the school system with confidence.