25 Questions to Ask at Your Child's ARD or IEP Meeting
You don't need to ask all 25. Pick the 3 to 5 that match your biggest worry, write them down, and bring them with you. The questions follow the order most meetings run, so you can keep your place at the table.
Each question has one line on why it matters. If you want a full prep plan, start with our Texas ARD meeting help guide or the Walk In Ready prep packet.
ARD or IEP? Same meeting, different name
In Texas the IEP team meeting is called an ARD meeting. ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal. The ARD committee writes your child's IEP. Everywhere else the meeting is usually just called the IEP meeting. The questions below work for both. More on the terms: ARD vs IEP.
Before the meeting (questions 1 to 4)
1. Can I get a draft of the IEP and any new evaluation reports before the meeting?
Reading at home beats reading for the first time at the table.
2. Who will be at the meeting, and what is each person's role?
You'll know who can answer which question, and who can approve services.
3. How long is the meeting scheduled for, and what happens if we run out of time?
Rushed meetings end with decisions made by default.
4. Can I add my own concerns to the agenda?
Your concerns belong in the record, not just in the hallway afterward.
Present levels and evaluation (questions 5 to 9)
5. What data shows where my child is right now in each area?
Present levels drive every goal and service. Vague levels mean vague goals.
6. When was my child last evaluated, and is anything due for re-evaluation?
Old data can hide new needs.
7. Were all areas of suspected need tested? If not, why not?
A gap in testing can mean a gap in services.
8. Can someone walk me through the evaluation results in plain terms?
You are allowed to ask what a score means for your child day to day.
9. How does what I see at home fit into these present levels?
Parent input is part of the picture. Ask where it shows up.
Goals (questions 10 to 13)
10. How will this goal be measured, and how often?
If no one can say, it can't be tracked.
See are my child's IEP goals strong enough.
11. What is my child's progress on last year's goals, with data?
This tells you whether the plan worked.
12. Why is this the right target for this year?
Goals should stretch, not repeat.
13. How and when will I get progress reports?
You shouldn't learn about a problem at the next annual meeting.
Want someone in the room who has done this before? Book a call and we'll go over your list together.
Book a ConsultationServices and accommodations (questions 14 to 18)
14. How many minutes of each service, who provides it, and where?
Minutes, provider and setting should all be written down.
15. Which accommodations will be used in every class, and how will teachers know?
An accommodation no one knows about doesn't help.
16. What happens if a service is missed, for example the provider is out?
Ask how missed sessions are tracked and made up.
17. Does my child qualify for any related services, like speech, OT or counseling?
These are often missed unless someone asks.
18. What supports are there for state testing?
Testing accommodations are listed separately. Check they match daily ones.
Placement and behavior (questions 19 to 22)
19. How much of the day will my child be with general education peers, and why?
Placement should start from the least restrictive option that works.
See least restrictive environment.
20. What other placements were considered and why were they turned down?
The reasons should be in the paperwork.
21. Is behavior getting in the way of learning, and is there a plan for it?
If yes, ask whether an FBA or BIP is needed.
See behavior plan being ignored.
22. How will I be told about removals, suspensions or calls home?
Removals add up, and they matter for discipline protections.
Closing, prior written notice and consent (questions 23 to 25)
23. Can you give me prior written notice for anything you proposed or refused today?
Prior written notice explains what the school decided and why, in writing.
See what is prior written notice.
24. Do I have to sign today, and what does my signature mean?
Signing attendance is not the same as agreeing. Ask before you sign. In Texas, if the committee does not agree, the ARD can recess and reconvene.
25. When will I get the final copy, and when does it start?
A plan that isn't started on time isn't helping.
If it isn't followed later, see school not following the IEP.
How to use these in the room
- Write your questions down before you go. Paper or phone is fine.
- Ask that the answers go in the meeting notes.
- It's fine to say "I need time to think about this."
- If an answer is vague, ask "Can you show me where that is written?"
If the meeting went badly anyway, read IEP meeting didn't go well.
Quick answers
What questions should I ask at my child's IEP meeting?
Ask how each goal will be measured, what data shows your child's current levels, how many minutes of each service your child gets and from whom, how much of the day is with general education peers, and whether you can have prior written notice for anything proposed or refused. Bring the questions written down and ask that answers go in the meeting notes.
Is an ARD meeting the same as an IEP meeting?
Yes. In Texas the IEP meeting is called an ARD meeting, short for Admission, Review, and Dismissal. The ARD committee writes the IEP. The questions to ask are the same.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record an ARD meeting in Texas?
In most cases, yes. Federal law leaves recording to states and districts, and Texas state rules do not ban parents from recording an ARD meeting. Many Texas districts have a local policy on recording, and when a parent records, the district usually records too. Tell the school before the meeting that you plan to record, ask for its policy in writing, and keep taking your own notes.
What if I don't agree with the IEP?
Say so in the meeting and ask that your disagreement be written in the notes. Ask for prior written notice for anything the school proposed or refused. In Texas the ARD can recess and meet again; see Texas ARD meeting help and procedural safeguards.
How do I get a copy of the draft IEP before the meeting?
Ask in writing a few days before the meeting. Email works and gives you a record. Our IEP preparation checklist covers the other papers to gather.
How many of these questions should I bring?
Three to five is plenty for most meetings. Pick the ones tied to your biggest concern and ask those first.
Want someone in the room who has done this before? Book a call and we'll go over your list together.
Book a Consultation