Prepare for your child's IEP meeting with plain-English explanations and questions
Amanda Caswell felt lost in her daughter's IEP process. She asked ChatGPT to explain IEPs, decode terms like FAPE and LRE, check whether the goals were measurable, and prepare questions for the meeting. She shares 9 prompts she used.
Try it yourself
What you get
An explanation of your child's IEP you can actually follow, goals rewritten to be measurable, and a list of questions to bring to the meeting.
Tools
- ChatGPT
- Your child's IEP draft or current IEP
Steps
- Ask for a plain-language explanation of an IEP and the acronyms in your child's document.
- Paste each goal and ask whether it's specific and measurable. Ask for a rewrite if it isn't.
- Ask for questions to raise at the meeting, such as how progress is measured and what support covers lunch and recess.
- Bring the questions to the meeting and treat teachers and therapists as the experts on your child.
Copy-ready prompt
I'm a parent preparing for my child's IEP meeting. Child: [grade, needs, in a few words, no names]. Here are the current goals and accommodations: [paste, with identifying details removed]. 1. Explain any acronyms and terms in plain English. 2. For each goal, say whether it's specific and measurable, and suggest a clearer rewrite if needed. 3. Give me 10 questions to ask at the meeting, including how progress will be measured and reported, and what support is available at unstructured times like lunch and recess. 4. What are my rights if I disagree with the team? Point me to official sources for [state/country].
Proof / source
Self-reported First-person article by a parent (Tom's Guide AI editor).
In their words
Inquiring about support during unstructured times addressed areas where my daughter might need additional assistance. I would have never known to ask this question if it weren’t for ChatGPT.
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