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Building a Strong Parent Placement Team (PPT) for Your Child's IEP: Tips for Collaboration and Success

September 24, 2023

The Power of Collaboration: Building a Successful Parent Placement Team (PPT)

As parents, we know that an effective Parent Placement Team (PPT) is essential for our child's educational journey. This team, consisting of educators, administrators, and parents, comes together to develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that sets the course for our children to reach their full potential. To ensure success, let's explore some actions team members can take to foster collaboration and support each other in the process.

Be Prepared:

Prior to meetings, each team member should review evaluations and come prepared with questions, concerns, and progress observations. As parents, sharing what we have observed at home since the last meeting is crucial. Being prepared allows us to actively contribute and ensure all perspectives are considered.

Listen Attentively:

In IEP team meetings, active listening is key. Let's strive to understand others' viewpoints before preparing our response. By truly hearing and acknowledging each other, we create an atmosphere of respect and openness.

Ask for Clarification:

Don't hesitate to ask questions when needed and stay open to new ideas. Remember, compromise is more likely when everyone feels heard. As team members, we should avoid interrupting each other and be mindful of our body language, fostering a collaborative environment.

Prioritize Goals:

Having an agenda is essential in any meeting. It helps us focus on the most important issues and ensure they receive the necessary attention. As parents, we can reach out to the team leader beforehand to share our input on the agenda. By highlighting urgent items that require immediate attention in the IEP, we can actively contribute to the planning process.

Build Consensus:

Effective implementation of the IEP requires the commitment of all team members. Each person should leave the meeting with clear action items to support the student's progress. Documenting individual goals and creating a timeline is vital. This helps everyone stay on track and serves as a foundation for ongoing communication and collaboration.

Remember, while each team member plays a different role in our child's education, ongoing communication and mutual understanding are key to achieving the best outcomes. We encourage you, Elea Villagers, to share your experiences with your child's PPT. Have your meetings been running smoothly? Do you have any suggestions for improvement? We would love to hear from you! Together, we can strengthen the power of collaboration and pave the way for our children's success.