IEP Frustrations: Unmet IEP Services

Oct 20

You hold an IEP meeting, look at the data, and determine the accommodations, goals, and services that meet your child’s needs. You sign it and (hopefully) think, “Thank goodness, we got what our child needs!”

Things are going well and then you realize your child is not actually receiving all of the services outlined in the IEP.

There are a few reasons why this could be happening. A common reason (and one of the easiest to remedy) is that a service provider was sick and the missed services will be made up upon their return. Another reason that is unfortunately becoming more common with the staffing shortages across the US, is that there are not enough service providers to meet the needs of all of the students.

It is important to remember that you and your child’s case manager and service providers are on the same team and it is more than likely not their fault that your child is missing services. More often than not, this is an issue at the district level. You guys are on the same team and I always recommend trying to work together.

So the big question is… Does that mean your child just goes without the services they need? The short answer is no. Not following the IEP is simply unacceptable. Short of a systemic change to the education system, what can we do? Let’s talk about it!

I suggest starting by being as proactive as possible. That means monitoring your child’s services through regular communication with your child’s case manager and service providers. This can look like service logs or regular check-ins.

One of the first steps to take once you realize that your child is missing services is to ensure your understanding of the service and the district’s understanding of the service matches. If needed, hold another IEP meeting and explicitly include what the service will look like. Think…

Is it a direct service?
Is it consult?
How often are the services being provided and for how long per session?
Are there times the service will and will not be made up if missed?
Where is the service being provided?

It is easiest to rectify missing services when caught early. When it’s been months, it can be more challenging to make up the missed services. The longer it has been, the more creative the solutions might become.

The easiest solution is to temporarily double services each week until they are made up. However, this only works if there are service providers available to provide the services.

An alternative solution would be for the district to agree to pay for services through an outside agency if the district doesn’t have the needed staff.

Some more creative solutions might be needed if a significant amount of time has passed since your child has received their services.

⬅️ This image shows the continuum of possible solutions.

Coming to the IEP table with an open mind and collaborative approach can often help to make the process go a little smoother. This can be especially challenging when your child is not getting the services they need. I urge you to try to keep yourself in this frame of mind, but there are times that things go sideways.

If the district is not agreeable or they are fighting you on whether there are services that need to be made up, then seeking legal advice and possibly filing a due process complaint might be the next step.

The goal here is to get your child the services they need and sometimes that means thinking outside the box and sometimes that means seeking outside help. Whatever it takes, you can do it!

Questions? Drop them below. ⬇️ I am here to help!

Regardless of where you are in your journey of navigating Special Education, I am here for you! I have a couple free resources that are great places to start. Tap the pics below to learn more and get them.