Family Engagement during the IEP Process

By intentionally implementing strategies to partner with caregivers before, during, and after the evaluation process, school psychologists can empower families and improve student outcomes. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP, 2019) has advocated for engaging families as active partners, emphasizing the importance of forming equitable partnerships between schools and families, in which both share responsibility for the success of all learners. Establishing intentional coordination and consistency, building positive relationships, and aligning family engagement efforts to the child's development are key considerations for successful family--school partnerships. This article provides strategies for how school psychologists can engage families (1) at the beginning of and during the evaluation, and (2) prior to, during, and after the individualized education plan (IEP) meeting.