NC 1503-4.3 Parent Participation

Plain English summary

This regulation requires LEAs to take specific steps to ensure parent participation in IEP Team meetings, including timely notice, scheduling accommodations, interpreter services, and documentation when parents cannot attend. It also mandates that notices include transition-related information beginning at age 14 and postsecondary goal information by age 16. LEAs must provide parents a free copy of the child's IEP within a reasonable timeframe following the meeting.

Key requirements

• Each LEA must take steps to ensure that one or both of the parents of a child with a disability are present at each IEP Team meeting or are afforded the opportunity to participate.
• Notifying the parent(s) of the meeting early enough to ensure that they will have an opportunity to attend.
• Scheduling the meeting at a mutually agreed on time and place.
• The notice must indicate the purpose, time, and location of the meeting and who will be in attendance.
• The notice must inform the parent(s) of the provisions in NC 1503-4.2(a)(6) and (c) and NC 1503-4.2(f).
• For each student with a disability beginning at age 14 (or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team) the notice must also indicate that a purpose of the meeting will be the development of a statement of the transition services needs of the student required in NC1503-4.1(b)(1).
• For each student with a disability beginning at age 14, the notice must indicate that the agency will invite the student.
• For a child with a disability beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect when the child turns 16, the notice must indicate that a purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of the postsecondary goals and transition services for the child.
• For a child beginning not later than the first IEP in effect at age 16, the notice must indicate that the agency will invite the student and identify any other agency that will be invited to send a representative.
• If neither parent can attend an IEP Team meeting, the public agency must use other methods to ensure parent participation, including individual or conference telephone calls.
• A meeting may be conducted without a parent in attendance if the public agency is unable to convince the parent(s) that they should attend.
• The LEA must keep a record of its attempts to arrange a mutually agreed on time and place, including detailed records of telephone calls made or attempted and the results of those calls.
• The LEA must keep copies of correspondence sent to the parent(s) and any responses received.
• The LEA must keep detailed records of visits made to the parent's home or place of employment, if appropriate, and the results of those visits.
• The LEA must take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the parent(s) understands the proceedings of the IEP Team meeting, including arranging for an interpreter for parents with deafness or whose native language is other than English.
• The LEA must give the parent(s) a copy of the child's IEP at no cost to the parent(s) within a reasonable timeframe following the IEP meeting.

Affected parties

• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
• Parents of children with disabilities
• Students with disabilities (especially those ages 14 and older)
• IEP Team members
• Part C service coordinators
• Other agency representatives invited to IEP meetings
• Parents who are deaf or whose native language is not English

Official source

https://www.dpi.nc.gov/documents/publications/catalog/ec144-policies-governing-services/open#page=78