Understanding School Meetings

It is not uncommon to be contacted by a school representative asking you to attend a meeting of some kind for your learner. It can be difficult to decipher and understand the types of meetings held by school representatives for our learners and their academic journey. Below you will find a few of the most common types of school meetings, a little bit of information about each one, and other quick references to help better understand the many meetings we can be faced with during the school year.

504 Meetings –
What is a 504 Plan?
A 504 plan is a blueprint for how the school will support a student with a disability and remove barriers to learning. The goal is to give the student equal access at school. The law governing these is Section 504.

504 Meetings
These meetings are held for learners who currently have a 504 plan. The 504 Coordinator will schedule and facilitate a 504 team meeting on an annual basis at minimum to review and make any necessary updates to the 504 plan. Any member of the 504 team can request a meeting to discuss at any time.

Does my learner have a 504 plan?
504 plans require parental consent. If you are unsure if your learner has a 504 plan, it would be best to connect with your learner’s EF to discuss. If you have questions regarding 504 plans, meetings, or eligibility, contact your school’s 504 Coordinator.

Resource
Section 504 Fact Sheet

SST Meetings –

What is SST?
A Student Support Team (SST) is a multidisciplinary team that considers, plans, and assesses general education interventions and supports for learners who are considered to be at risk and experiencing academic, speech/language, and/or social-emotional/behavioral difficulties. The SST process is a function of the general education program.

SST Meetings
SST meetings are conducted throughout the school year to review interventions and supports that have been implemented into the learner’s academy journey to determine if they are positively impacting the learners ability to access and perform academically. The SST team (Educational Facilitator, facilitator, Education Specialist, and parent – sometimes learner) will discuss and review these interventions, brainstorm additional interventions, and many times, set a time in 8-12 weeks to meet to review the implementation of supports and efficiency.

Does my learner receive SST interventions and supports?
If you are unsure whether your learner receives SST supports and interventions, it is best to connect with your learner’s EF. They can then refer you to the SST coordinator if additional support or communication is warranted.

Resource
SST Portion of the Hub

IEP Meetings –
What is an IEP?
An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan that is mandated federally by IDEA for learners with disabilities that negatively impact their access to general education curriculum to the extent that specially designed instruction is required to provide equal access. Learners grades K-12 can be found eligible for an IEP.

IEP Meetings
Each learner with an IEP is assigned a Case Manager/Education Specialist for the school year to aid in this process for the year. They also provide the support services listed in the learner’s IEP. Annual IEP meetings are held annually to evaluate student growth and progress, as well as, make updates and adjustments to the learner’s IEP. There may be other IEP team meetings held throughout the school year for a multitude of reasons. Any member of the IEP team can request an IEP team meeting at any time.

Does my learner have an IEP?
If you are unsure if your learner has an Individualized Education Plan, it would be best to first connect with your EF. In doing so, if there is further support needed, they can connect you with one of the Student Support Leads or Coordinators depending on your learner’s school site and grade level. If you have questions related to IEPs, you can gather the lead contact information from your learner’s EF, too.

Resource
Parent Guide