Every fall, most parents start to wonder how things are going at school. With that feeling comes a swirl of questions: Is my child getting the support they need? Are we on track? That’s why I encourage the families I work with to request an October check-in meeting with their child’s school team—whether that’s the IEP team, 504 team, or general education intervention providers.
Why October?
Teachers know your child now. By this point, new teachers have had time to get to know your child and can share meaningful feedback.
Your child is in the groove. Routines are established, making it easier to identify what’s working and what might need problem-solving.
It’s early enough to course-correct. Fall conferences usually happen in late November, which is too far into the year to address early concerns. An October meeting gives the team a chance to fix issues before they snowball.
Tips for Middle & High School Students
If your child is in middle or high school, try to include as many general education teachers as possible. It may not be feasible to get them all in one room, so prioritize teachers in the subjects tied to your child’s academic goals—for example, the math teacher if your child has math goals.
What to Cover at the Meeting
Hear from general education teachers about how your child is doing in class.
Review accommodations and make sure everyone knows how to implement them. This is a great chance to brainstorm solutions for tricky accommodations (like finding a break space outside the classroom).
Confirm when and where services are being delivered—whether it’s specially designed instruction on the IEP or intervention groups.
Clarify school-to-home communication plans. Decide whether a daily or weekly report is needed, and establish clear pathways for parents to raise concerns.
Outcomes You Can Expect
Stronger relationships: The team gets to know your family early, and you get to know them.
Increased collaboration: Families show they’re engaged and invested in the plan, which helps build trust and collaboration across the table.
Prevention: Problems are identified and addressed before they escalate.
A holistic view: Staff gets to know your child in new ways, which in the whirlwind of back-to-school may not have happened yet.
How I Can Help
As a parent advocate, I support families through the transition from one school year to the next. Staff may change from spring to fall, but parents remain consistent—and so do I. I bring forward the history of what’s worked, what’s been tried, and what needs improvement, helping to connect strategies across school years and schools. I meet with families to develop our list of priorities before the meeting and email the team our discussion topics, take notes during the meeting, and send a follow-up email to the team to document our agreements, any next steps, and support accountability.
Proactive planning is always easier than repairing problems after they’ve started.
Need help setting up or navigating an October check-in? Ask me—I’m here to support you. Let’s set up a call.