[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-534227-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-534227-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","iep-facilitation-fact-sheet-facilitating-iep-meetings","IEP Facilitation Fact Sheet - Facilitating IEP Meetings","","Promotes collaborative IEP meetings through a state-sponsored facilitator who is a neutral third party trained in facilitation techniques. Explains the facilitator’s role in keeping discussions focused on the student’s individual needs by proposing group norms, encouraging open dialogue and whole-team participation, and addressing differing opinions respectfully. Describes benefits including improved communication, conflict resolution, clearer agreement/disagreement, shared responsibility, and continued attention to child needs, plus preparation steps, district responsibilities, parent rights, and enforcement via state complaint or due process.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/iep-facilitation-fact-sheet-facilitating-iep-meetings/534227/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/iep-facilitation-fact-sheet-facilitating-iep-meetings/534227.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Liam","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-10","2026-10-10",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is IEP facilitation and is it required?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"IEP facilitation is a voluntary process where a trained third-party facilitator guides the IEP meeting to support open communication and focus on developing a mutually acceptable IEP. It is provided as a free service.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is the facilitator’s main goal during the IEP meeting?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The facilitator maintains the meeting’s focus on the student’s individual needs. They propose group norms, promote dialogue and whole-team participation for decision making, and address differing opinions in a respectful and neutral way.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Do parent rights and procedural safeguards still apply in a facilitated meeting?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Yes. All parent rights, notifications, and procedural safeguards remain applicable as with any other IEP meeting. The IEP document is enforceable through the state complaint process or a due process hearing.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},534227,1791710765,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":97,"preview_page_count":4},8796095461564,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","Facilitating IEP Meetings  \nPromoting collaborative Individualized Education Program meetings as a preventative measure  \nRole of the IEP Facilitator  \nThe state-sponsored facilitator is a neutral third party trained in facilitation techniques but is not an employee of the school district, a member of the IEP team, or an advocate for any person on the team.  \nMain Goal  \nThe facilitator will maintain the focus of the IEP meeting on what really matters—the student’s individual needs—while:  \nProposing group norms to provide structure and focus for the meeting  \nPromoting dialogue and encouraging whole team participation for decision making while not imposing a decision on the group  \nAcknowledging and addressing differing opinions in a respectful and neutral manner  \n“The facilitator developed a written agenda and group meeting norms for the IEP meeting. Being the visual person I am, referencing your charts as we moved through the discussion was extremely helpful to me.”  \n-Parent  \n[isbe](isbe.net)[.net](isbe.net)  \nIEP Facilitation  \nState-sponsored facilitation is a voluntary process in which a third party  \n(facilitator) guides the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to help maintain open communication and keep the IEP team members focused on developing a mutually acceptable IEP. Facilitation is a free service.  \nParents of children with known or suspected disabilities and/or school personnel have the right to request facilitation services from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) .  \nILLINOIS  \nSTATE BOARD OF  \nEDUCATION  \nBenefits of a Facilitated IEP Meeting  \n• May build and improve relationships among IEP team members and between parents and schools  \n• Enhances effective communication and listening within the group  \n• Provides opportunities for team members to resolve conflicts, if they arise  \n• Clarifies points of agreement and disagreement  \n• Encourages all team members to share in the responsibility of developing the IEP  \n• Maintains focus on the needs of the child  \nBe open to consider other ideas or solutions!  \nListen to learn even if you don’t agree!  \nPreparing for the Meeting  \n• Be prepared to talk with the facilitator prior to the IEP meeting.  \n• If requested, email the current IEP or draft, as well as any recent evaluation data to assist in discussion and planning.  \n• Prepare a list of issues to discuss and questions to ask, as needed.  \nDistrict Responsibilities  \nThe school district retains responsibility for following special education requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Illinois Administrative Code.  \nParent Rights  \nAll parent rights, notifications, and procedural safeguards are still applicable— as with any other IEP meeting.  \nThe IEP document is enforceable through the  \nstate complaint process or a due process hearing.  \n“It was the most productive IEP meeting I have ever attended. Now I understand my role and the roles of each of the IEP team members.”  \n-Parent  \n“Having a facilitator guide a process where everyone is on the same page is invaluable. Using visual agendas, getting consensus along the way, and building relationships as a team was dynamic. We are all here for the same reason …to support the student.”  \n-School Staff Member  \nContact  \nEmily Postelmans- IEP Facilitation Coordinator  \nEmail: [epostelm@isbe. net](epostelm@isbe. net)  \nPhone: 217-782-5589 TTY/TDD: 217-782-1900  \nFax: 217-782-0372  \n[Website:](Website: www.isbe. net/Pages/IEP-Facilitation-System.aspx)[ ](Website: www.isbe. net/Pages/IEP-Facilitation-System.aspx)[www.isbe. net/Pages/IEP-Facilitation-System.aspx](Website: www.isbe. net/Pages/IEP-Facilitation-System.aspx)","cbCaifUvJ5oCm8MX","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifUvJ5oCm8MX","pdf",847987,"English","# Facilitating IEP Meetings\n## Role of the IEP Facilitator\n## Main Goal\n## IEP Facilitation Process\n## Benefits of a Facilitated IEP Meeting\n## Preparing for the Meeting\n## District Responsibilities\n## Parent Rights\n## Contact","[{\"question\":\"What is IEP facilitation and is it required?\",\"answer\":\"IEP facilitation is a voluntary process where a trained third-party facilitator guides the IEP meeting to support open communication and focus on developing a mutually acceptable IEP. It is provided as a free service.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the facilitator’s main goal during the IEP meeting?\",\"answer\":\"The facilitator maintains the meeting’s focus on the student’s individual needs. They propose group norms, promote dialogue and whole-team participation for decision making, and address differing opinions in a respectful and neutral way.\"},{\"question\":\"Do parent rights and procedural safeguards still apply in a facilitated meeting?\",\"answer\":\"Yes. All parent rights, notifications, and procedural safeguards remain applicable as with any other IEP meeting. The IEP document is enforceable through the state complaint process or a due process hearing.\"}]","IEP Facilitation Fact Sheet - Facilitating IEP Meetings | PDF",1791597940]