Education Short List

Part Four: Final Installment

9. Who should I be contacting with my questions, thoughts, or concerns?

You will probably think of other things you wanted to ask or clarify after the meeting is over. Make sure that before you leave you know who to call or email with those issues. Get their contact information before you leave and make sure that they know they will be hearing from you. That way, you won’t waste your time trying to find someone to answer your questions after the meeting is over.

10. Can we restate briefly what we have discussed and what we have agreed our next steps will be?

This question can seem a bit silly, but I can’t tell you how many times I left a meeting thinking that everyone at the table agreed that we would proceed with testing only to get an angry or confused phone call later from a parent who wanted to know why we were testing their student. Even though the parents may have signed a “permission to evaluate” form, these meetings can be long and confusing – anyone can forget or misunderstand something that happened. That’s why it is always a good idea to make sure everyone is on the same page before anyone leaves the table.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully, these questions will provide you with the confidence you need to be an active, involved member in your son or daughter’s academic team. Remember, aside from your child, you are the most important member of the team because you are advocating for your child and because you know your son or daughter better than anyone else. Do not be afraid to ask for things to be explained more than once, to ask for alternative ideas to the ones being presented, to offer ideas and suggestions of your own, or to refuse what the school district wants to do. By working hand in hand with your child’s school, you will help ensure that your son or daughter experiences the success that they are capable of.