ARD/IEP Meeting

What Is Required

Each local educational agency (LEA) must establish an admission, review and dismissal (ARD) committee for each eligible child with a disability and for each child for whom an initial Full and Individual Evaluation is conducted 19 TAC 89.1050. The ARD/IEP Committee is the: (1) Eligibility team defined in federal law IDEA 2004, 34 CFR 300.306. (2) Individualized education program (IEP) team defined in federal law IDEA 2004, 34 CFR 300.321. (3) Placement team defined in federal law IDEA 2004,34 CFR 300.116. The term IEP means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised in accordance with the ARD/IEP committee framework. The ARD committee must review the child's IEP periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to determine whether the annual goals are being achieved. The ARD committee must determine the child's placement at least annually 34 CFR 300.116(b)(1). The ARD/IEP Committee may meet more often than annually to revise the student’s IEP, as appropriate, to address: (1) any lack of expected progress toward the annual goals, (2) the results of any reevaluation, (3) information about the student provided to, or by the parents, (4) anticipated needs of the student or (5) other concerns. A parent may request an ARD/IEP committee meeting (at a mutually agreeable time) at any time to discuss educational concerns such as placement, IEP goals and objectives, and the extent of services being provided to the student. The school must either grant the parent’s request to have a meeting or contact the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ask for assistance through mediation.

What We Do

An Admission / Review / Dismissal (ARD) Committee must meet annually to review the Individual Education Program (IEP) for students receiving special education. The committee may meet more often than annually to revise the students IEP, or make other recommendations as needed appropriate. In addition, a parent may request an ARD committee meeting (at a mutually agreeable time) at any time to discuss educational concerns such as placement, IEP goals and objectives, and the extent of services being provided to their child.

IEP Meeting Guidelines:

• Begin on time with all members present throughout the duration of the meeting
• Have all members sign-in with arrival time
• Follow IEP meeting agenda
• Remain student focused
• Acknowledge all committee members as valuable participants by actively listening and showing respect for their ideas and questions
• Maintain confidentiality
• Silence communication devices and refrain from texting
• Work collaboratively to attain consensus