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Facilitated IEP

The goal of a Facilitated Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting is to help IEP team members communicate effectively and develop plans that meet the student's educational need. Facilitated meetings are a voluntary process and may be particularly helpful when a team is expecting the discussion at a meeting to be challenging.

 

What are the benefits of a Facilitated IEP Team Meeting? 
Benefits include:

  • Assistance in the development of a mutually agreed-upon IEP and other team decisions.
  • The chance for team members to develop and keep good working relationships.
  • Building the foundation for on-going communication and collaboration between the family and the school throughout the year.
  • This service is offered at no cost from the community mediation center.

What does an IEP Facilitator do?
An IEP Facilitator:

  • Helps make sure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard at an IEP Team meeting.
  • Keeps the discussion focused.
  • Helps the team to resolve disagreements.
  • Uses communication skills to help IEP Team members work together to develop and appropriate IEP and make other decisions about the IEP.

Who are the facilitators?
The facilitators:

  • Are highly trained volunteers from the Community Mediation and Conflict Resolution Collaborative (CMCRC).
  • Are not members of the school team and do not have a relationship with the school or the parent.
  • Are persons who focus on the process, while the team members make all of the decisions.
  • Remain neutral and will not blame, take sides, or recommend actions.

What meetings are targeted for this project?

  • IEP team meetings where the parents see the need for a neutral party to facilitate communication when there has been a dispute.
  • IEP Team meetings in need of enhanced communication support that are not a follow-up to a settlement agreement, including Mediation Agreement, or Judicial Order.
  •  IEP team meetings where the team participants could benefit from modeling of facilitated communication and conflict resolution and do not involve school board or parent attorneys.

 How are facilitators requested?

  • School personnel or parents should contact their Regional Special Education Assistant Supervisor for Compliance to request a facilitated IEP team meeting.

For more information, contact:

Prince George's County Public Schools
Special Education Compliance Office

Jessie B. Mason Regional School
Temple Hills, Maryland 20748
301-702-2890

The Project is Sponsored by: Maryland Association of Community Mediation Centers
www.mdmediation.org

Maryland State Department of Education
www.msde.state.md.us