Incomplete PWN, unmeasurable IEP goals, & where do I go from here?

[Kaha]

I have a few questions which I hope the community can answer:

1. Is there a specific timeline for requesting an IEE after the school completes testing?

2. To whom is an IEE request addressed to? The school principal, school district SPED director, state agency?

3. If the IEP goals aren't measurable (and the school was aware,) can I argue for an IEE?

4. My child is moving over to Middle School next school year, should there be a transition meeting which includes the SPED teacher at the new school?

5. Since the SPED teacher stated my child has mastered their goals, is it beneficial to ask for a meeting to have them show me how the data was collected even though they admitted the program they used only shows completion and isn't measurable?

 

Here's a bit of background: In February 2025, the school completed the triennial testing for my child's IEP evaluation (DX with Autism & ADHD.) Although the results showed that my child was at average and even above average on some of the tests that they completed, I still didn't agree with the results. During our IEP meeting last March to go over the results, it was mentioned that timers were stopped because of "intrusive thoughts" but that wouldn't have affected the scoring. They also declined to test pragmatic language skills. I debated about requesting an IEE then, but the local state advocacy group was like, well, try to write them a letter stating that you don't agree with the results. (I had one of their advocates with me during the meeting. I don't think she said more than 10 words the entire meeting.)

Fast forward to August 2025. I receive an E-mail from the new SPED teacher who set up a meeting to go over the annual IEP. When I received the draft, the two goals my child had were rewritten. Not only were they rewritten, it was done in a way which essentially stated child will complete X in 4 out of 5 opportunities. I brought up to the team that the goals weren't measurable this way, but my concerns were again dismissed. I also asked the SPED teacher why my parent concerns letter was summarized in the IEP and was told that they don't have to put my full letter in there. At this point, the school wasn't listening to me nor my advocate, so I called the district SPED Director to ask that she join us for another meeting.

I spent 45 minutes on the phone with the SPED director and was told that my parent concerns letter was not where I put in that I disagree with the decisions made by the IEP team and that they don't have to put my full letter in my child's IEP. They also fully backed their teachers and the decisions that they were making, but they would contact the principal to request another meeting. Another meeting was scheduled, but that didn't work out because the school had tech issues & my child's teacher couldn't be in attendance for more than 15 minutes.

After going back and forth with the school, I got another meeting scheduled and the state advocacy group put me in touch with one of their director's to attend with me. The state advocate pointed out that info was missing from the IEP and that the goals as written weren't measurable. The school principal was in this meeting and we discussed her suggestions to my child's IEP which I actually agreed with. After an hour plus meeting, it seemed like both sides were making progress, although I felt like I was being lectured for “not letting my child be independent.”

The PWN comes with the amended IEP. Sure enough, it's missing a good deal of what was discussed at the meeting. And when I E-mailed the principal about it (when I had to e-mail and ask where the data was that backed up their progress reports,) she didn't directly address it. It was pushed off on the SPED and Gen Ed teachers to answer my questions.

I'm literally at my wits end. I don't seem to be getting anywhere with the school and the state advocacy agency is super vague. It's more or less, "it's up to you what you want to do." As a parent who has no idea what they're doing, I'm just looking for some direction on what the next best steps are, especially with the school year ending next Friday. Thank you.

 

[JSD24]

1. Is there a specific timeline for requesting an IEE after the school completes testing?  There isn't.  Since it's been 15 months, they might want to do another eval rather than pay for an IEE.  You might want to talk to the special ed director and ask them.  I do agree that your child needs to be tested for pragmatics (and social skills).  These are the areas of need with ADHD & autism.

2. To whom is an IEE request addressed to? The school principal, school district SPED director, state agency?  I'd address it to the principal, case manager (this would be the special ed teacher who writes the IEP), and the special ed director.  (Send an email.)

3. If the IEP goals aren't measurable (and the school was aware,) can I argue for an IEE?  No.  You do an IEE to get data.  If a goal isn't measurable...well, you want SMART goals.

4. My child is moving over to Middle School next school year, should there be a transition meeting which includes the SPED teacher at the new school?  Not required under IDEA.  It's a nice thing to do.

5. Since the SPED teacher stated my child has mastered their goals, is it beneficial to ask for a meeting to have them show me how the data was collected even though they admitted the program they used only shows completion and isn't measurable?  "What does that look like?"  Ask that question when you feel a goal isn't measurable.

6. If they didn't back their teacher, they would be admitting the IEP isn't FAPE.

[Kaha]

@JSD24, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my questions. I did reach out to my child's school last week via E-mail and told the team that "I would like to better understand how the data they sent demonstrates that my child has met the two goals outlined in their IEP. If someone could please explain in detail how the data supports this determination, I would appreciate it." I also told them I have not received any additional data sets, nor have I received notice of a review meeting & asked if they could advise when the review meeting would occur and when I can expect to receive the remaining data?

The SPED teacher responded with "so sorry for the delay regarding the data and scheduling the review meeting as it slipped my mind."  They're aware that my child is moving to middle school. I'd like to give them grace, but I've been gaslit so much in the past year, it's hard for me to believe this was an oversight. Additional data was sent home, but there was 3 months missing.

The school principal then responded that they can schedule a meeting on Tuesday at 11:30. I'm already losing time from work to attend my child's awards ceremony that day. I'm afraid to take any additional time off from work but school ends here on Friday. Last time I had a meeting with them, it was an hour + of time and then they didn't even address everything in the PWN.

My fear is that they'll meet without me and switch the IEP to a 504 & remove some accommodations. They've brought this up numerous times in past meetings. And I know it's going to be a challenge to get switched back to an IEP. (They've already changed goals before an IEP meeting & they weren't SMART goals, so I have little trust in them.)

I almost wonder if it would be best for me to tell them to send me the the details for their data that supports their position and I'll discuss it with the new school. 

I still want to request an IEE though. If they say "no," I guess the next step is due process if I'm not mistaken?

Thanks for listening to one stressed out parent.....