Collecting Data at Home
How do you know if your child is meeting their IEP goals? How can you collect data at home? Use the questions and suggestions attached to help you.
IEP Checklist for Parents of Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Don’t know what to ask at an IEP meeting? This checklist provides some ideas for preparing for your IEP meeting to best support your child with the most significant cognitive disabilities and asking for inclusive practices.
Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance- PLAAFP
We are often asked during an IEP meeting “What is your child’s present level? PLAAFP?” Do you know what this acronym means? Use this resource to help you answer and contribute to the conversation.
Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice
This notice includes an explanation of parental rights for children receiving services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
¿CUÁL ES LA REGLA DE LOS 5 DÍAS? ¿Y CÓMO ME AFECTA?
Desde el 1 de julio de 2019, Maryland promulgó una ley que ayuda a los padres a prepararse y participar en las reuniones del Plan de educación individualizado (IEP) de sus hijos.
Consejos Para Padres Para Reuniones Virtuales de IEP
Se requiere que la escuela de su hijo lleve a cabola reunión del Programa de Educación Individualizado (IEP) de su hijo, lo que significa que esta reunión será virtual o por teléfono mientras la escuela esté cerrada. A continuación, se presentan algunos consejos para asistir a las reuniones virtuales del IEP.
Dispute Resolution
PPMD has created this image to help you understand your available dispute resolution options.
Maryland IEP Timeline
When will your child’s IEP be developed? When should updated evaluations of your child be conducted? Find answers to your questions about the timeline of the IEP process using PPMD’s Maryland IEP Timeline.
Model Letters
To make sure your requests, concerns and/or questions are understood, it is important to document them in writing. PPMD has a new resource that parents can use for specific requests and situations. Use these samples letters as models when you write your own.











Educación Pública Gratuitita y Apropiada (FAPE, por sus siglas en ingles)
Bajo la Ley de Educación para Individuos con Discapacidades (IDEA), las escuelas públicas
están obligadas a proporcionar a cada estudiante que tiene un Programa de Educación
Individualizado (IEP) una Educación Pública Gratuita y Apropiada (Free and Appropriate
Public Education).
Factores especiales en el desarrollo del IEP
La Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidades (IDEA) enumera cinco factores especiales que el
equipo del IEP de su hijo debe considerar al desarrollar el IEP de su hijo.
5 Special Factors in IEP Development
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) lists five special factors that your child’s IEP team must consider while developing your child’s IEP. Use this factsheet to learn about these five special factors.
Virtual Learning Feedback Form
Use this form to collect data on your child’s learning during virtual/remote/distance learning. After you fill out the form, you should share it with your child’s IEP or 504 team.
Free Appropriate Public Education
Use this factsheet to understand what it means to truly have Free and Appropriate Public Education.
School Policy vs. IDEA
School has started which means there are many policies and guidance being sent. Here is a quick one-pager to remind you of the importance of your child’s IEP.
Parent Tips for a Virtual IEP Meeting
IEP meetings will still be held despite not being able to meet in person. Read these tips on how to prepare and take part in a virtual IEP meeting.
COVID-19 and What’s Next: What Parents Need to Know Webinar & Companion Resources
Watch this PPMD webinar for helpful resources on what you need to know about how the COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closures affect your child’s education and special education services on PPMD’s YouTube channel, linked below in the resource section. Use these companion tip sheets and resources.












IDEA Dispute Resolution Guides from CADRE
CADRE’s IDEA Dispute Resolution Parent Guides inform parents about their dispute resolution rights and options. These Parent Guides now have companion videos. The videos include: IEP Facilitation, Mediation, Written State Complaints, and Due Process.
Navigating the Special Education System Guide
Created by the Organization for Autism Research, this special education guide is designed to give each family the information and tools needed to successfully navigate the education system anywhere in the country.
Independent IEP Meeting Facilitation
The goal of the facilitated IEP meeting is to help IEP team members communicate effectively and develop an educational program to meet the child’s need.
Extended Early Intervention Services
This fact sheet informs families about extending services from age 3 until kindergarten, through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
What Is The 5-day Rule and How Does It Affect Me?
This resource explains Maryland’s 5-Day Rule, a law that enables parents to prepare and participate in their child’s IEP.
MSDE Technical Assistance on Missed IEP Services
This MSDE bulletin provides guidance on the decision-making for missed IEP services. See questions related to missed services that are often asked by local school systems.
IEP Meeting Tips
Parents are equal members of the IEP team. Finding ways to effectively advocate for your child during IEP meetings can be difficult. These tips will help prepare you for your next meeting.
Tips for Participating in Your Child’s IEP Meeting
IEP meetings can be overwhelming with lots of moving parts but it is important that families contribute and partner in the meeting. This checklist has some tips to help families more fully participate in their child’s IEP meeting.
The Role of School Nurses in Transition Planning
The nurse can be a vital member of the IEP team. This short video explains their role in the development of the IEP.
IEP Process Guide
This document, developed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), details the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.