LEA Responsibilities

A Local Education Agency (LEA) Representative or designee must be in attendance at every IEP meeting, but not everyone knows who the LEA Rep should be, what the role of the LEA Rep is at the meeting, and why it is critical for the LEA Rep to be an active participant in the meeting. First of all, the LEA Rep or designee must:

• be qualified to provide or supervise provision of special education services

• have knowledge of the general education curriculum

• be knowledgeable about the availability of the school’s resources

The LEA Rep must have the authority to commit school resources and be able to ensure that whatever services are described in an IEP will actually be provided because the school will be bound by the IEP that is developed at an IEP meeting.

Essential Functions of the LEA Representative:

• Ensure the establishment and functioning of a “Child Find” process (generally referred to as the Student Improvement Team process)

• Ensure district policy and procedures for evaluation and re-evaluation, identification, and eligibility for special education services are followed

• Ensure the development and implementation of the Individual Education Plan is done follows district policies and procedures

• Ensure that IEP reviews are conducted at least annually or as required to meet each student’s educational needs

• Ensure the required IEP participants attend and contribute to the development of the IEP (Required members include: General Education Teacher, Special Education Teacher, & LEA)

• Ensure the IEP is developed to address the individual needs of the student

• Be knowledgeable of district and school resources and procedures for allocation of those resources necessary to deliver the services outlined on the IEP including, but not limited to, personnel, transportation, and specialized curriculum

• Establish or appoint designee to establish a meeting agenda as a guide to the team through the decision making process for all IEP meetings

• Guide the team to reach consensus regarding eligibility and/or IEP development

• Serve as the final decision maker when the team does not reach consensus or is unable to make a decision

• Have full knowledge of the IDEA Procedural Safeguards for Special Education

• Have knowledge of school/district obligation on decisions on resources, IEP development, evaluation, legal education decision maker responsibilities and limitations, and due process procedures

• Ensure written progress reports are provided to legal education decision makers at the same frequency that progress is reported to general education students (mid-quarter, quarterly, etc.)

See attachment for LEA Roles and Responsibilities at an IEP Meeting