Preparing for an ARD Committee Meeting

It’s time for your child’s Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meeting. This can be a stressful time for families as pivotal decisions about your child’s education can be made in this meeting. Make sure that you are as prepared as possible so that you can advocate for your child’s needs. During this meeting, there are many items to consider and decisions to be made – a few are listed below: 

• New or old evaluations 
• Annual goals 
• Supports for the student
• Supports for the teacher if needed to implement the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Where a student will receive their special education services  
• Transfer of rights 
• Transition services
• Method of graduation  

To make the meeting run smoother, there are things that can be done ahead of time. Each Local Education Agency (LEA) must give parents written notice of an ARD committee meeting. You are entitled to at least a five-day notice. You may agree to hold the meeting within less than 5 days of the written notice. A waiver will need to be signed. 

The Notice is a helpful document. It states the purpose of the meeting, who will attend the meeting if a review of current or new evaluations will occur, and other useful information. The Notice document can also be used to gather and request information before the meeting. The more you know before the meeting, the better prepared you will be. 

The proposed date, time and place of the meeting is required. Scheduling the meeting must be at a mutually agreed upon time and place. If you are unable to attend the meeting at the time scheduled, simply note that you are unable to attend and then include dates and times you can attend.  

If you have had new evaluations done for your child, ask for a copy of the related documentation at least 3 days before the meeting. This will give you time to read the report. Have questions? Write them down and take them with you. 

Disagree with the evaluation report? Draft a written request for an Independent Educational Evaluation. Take the request with you. Ask that it be added to the IEP paperwork. 

The notice must include the people invited to the meeting. Certain people are required to be there. The position of those invited may be listed on the notice. If you’re not sure every person you need to attend the meeting has been invited,  ask for a list of who will attend by name and their role in the meeting. If a critical person is missing from the list,  request that person be invited and attend the meeting. You have the right to request their attendance. 

Here is an example of how you might make a request: 

“I can attend the meeting if provided with a copy of any evaluation reports and other data that will be reviewed. I will also need a list of people invited to attend the meeting. Please include their name, position and their role. This will help me be an active member of the team. I will need the information requested no later than 3 days before the meeting. If you are unable to meet my request, please consider the dates and times below. I can be there at these dates and times.”  

Being prepared for your child’s ARD meeting can help you feel more confident in facing what can be a stressful situation.