Start Strong: How to Be Proactive About Your Child’s IEP Before School Starts

“Your child deserves more than a plan that gets them through the day—

they deserve one that supports who they are and who they want to become.”

The start of a new school year can bring a mix of emotions: hope, nervousness, and sometimes a sense of déjà vu—especially for families whose children have behavior challenges or complex support needs. As both a special education teacher and a parent who’s sat at the IEP table myself, I know how quickly a new school year can shift from fresh beginnings to familiar frustrations when we’re not proactive.

The good news? There’s still time to set the stage for a smoother, more supported return to school—and it starts with preparation.

1. Don’t Wait for the First Problem to Arise

Many parents wait until the first behavior incident or missed support to raise concerns. But if your child has struggled with school refusal, classroom behaviors, or misunderstood emotional needs in the past, now is the time to get ahead of it.

Review last year’s IEP and ask yourself: Does this still reflect who my child is today? What worked? What didn’t? Consider requesting a brief team meeting within the first few weeks of school to revisit plans for transitions, emotional regulation, and consistent support.

2. Revisit the IEP with Post-Secondary Vision in Mind

Transition planning isn’t just for high school. It’s never too early to start thinking about how school supports help your child build toward a meaningful adult life.

If your child struggles with emotional regulation or executive functioning, those are skills they’ll need long after graduation. Let’s stop viewing behavior supports and life skills as “just getting through the day” and start seeing them as tools that shape your child’s future. I encourage every family I work with to link current goals and services to long-term outcomes—even in elementary school.

3. Be the Expert on Your Child—and Share That Expertise

No one knows your child like you do. Whether your child masks at school, struggles with transitions, or thrives with particular supports, your insights matter.

If you’ve noticed changes over the summer, write them down. Gather input from therapists or other professionals. Record videos, collect work samples, or prepare a short “Back-to-School Snapshot” to help your child’s team understand what’s new and what still matters. Proactive parent voice helps avoid reactive, crisis-based decision-making later.

4. Behavior is Communication—Is Your Child’s IEP Listening?

Too often, behavior plans are generic or overly focused on compliance. But behavior is rarely just about “following the rules.” It’s about lagging skills, unmet needs, and nervous systems under stress.

If your child has a history of discipline referrals or time out of class, revisit the FBA and BIP—or ask for one. Make sure behavior supports reflect brain-based, trauma-informed strategies rooted in a real understanding of your child. We don’t want kids to “behave better”; we want them to feel safe enough to engage and learn.

5. Plan with the End in Mind, Not Just the Day Ahead

Whether your child is entering kindergarten or their final year of high school, the goal of special education is to prepare them for future education, employment and independent living. That means every IEP should help build a bridge from today to tomorrow.

Are self-advocacy skills included? Is independence supported? Are interests and strengths being nurtured? When we proactively align services to your child’s long-term vision, we reduce frustration and increase purpose—for everyone involved.

Ready to Start the Year with Confidence?

The start of school doesn’t have to feel like you’re bracing for impact. With the right preparation—and the right support—you can walk into IEP meetings with clarity, confidence, and a plan that actually works. If you’re tired of feeling stuck in meetings, delays, and dead ends while your child’s needs go unmet, it’s time for a different approach.

That’s why I created the P.A.T.H. to IEP Support—a step-by-step program that helps you cut through the confusion, understand your rights, and advocate effectively without burning out. Whether your child struggles with behavior, school refusal, or emotional regulation—or you’re simply ready to stop second-guessing yourself—this is your roadmap forward.

🎉 Enrollment is now open!
Click below to learn more and get started:
👉 Join PATH to IEP Support

Because your child deserves more than just “getting through the day.” They deserve a plan that leads somewhere.