How to prepare for an ARD meeting in Texas

If your child's ARD meeting is coming up, you may have a folder full of paperwork and still feel unsure about what to say. Start with one question: what do you want the team to understand about your child?

You do not need to arrive with every answer. A little preparation can help you explain your concerns and keep track of the answers you receive.

In Texas, ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal. The ARD committee makes decisions about special education eligibility and your child's program. As a parent, you are part of that committee. The IEP is the individualized education program the team develops for an eligible student. Texas parent guide.

Start with a short list

Write down your child's strengths, the progress you have noticed, and your biggest concerns. Put the concerns you most want to discuss at the top. Review the current IEP and evaluations, if your child has them, and note questions about goals or supports. The ARD Meeting Prep Sheet from Partners Resource Network offers prompts for organizing these thoughts.

A concern is easier to discuss when it includes an example. Instead of only saying, "Homework is hard," you might write, "Reading homework takes us about an hour, and my child needs help understanding the directions." Your own observations will be different.

Also note what helps. Does a short break make a difference? Is it easier for your child to explain an answer out loud? These details give the team something specific to discuss.

Put the useful information together

Make a small meeting folder, on paper or on your computer. Include the documents that relate to the concerns you want to discuss: the current plan, recent school reports, relevant evaluations, a few work samples, and important messages from the school.

You do not have to bring every paper you have saved. Put a note on the page you want to ask about so you can find it without searching through the whole folder. SPEDTex preparation guidance.

If this is your first ARD meeting and there is no IEP yet, organize the information you do have. Ask the school what documents will be discussed and whether you can review available materials before the meeting.

Bring questions you can use

Choose the questions that match your situation. Here are a few examples:

• Which part of this report explains the difficulty we are seeing at home?
• What would progress on this goal look like in a regular school day?
• How will I know whether this support is helping?
• Who should I contact if something in the plan is unclear?
• What do we need to follow up on after today?

Leave room beside each question to take notes. If the conversation moves on before you get an answer, you will have a reminder to come back to it.

Make it easier to participate

Check the meeting time, location or video link, and who to contact if you have trouble joining. For a virtual meeting, open the documents beforehand and test your audio.

Tell the school if you need an interpreter or other help understanding the discussion. TEA explains that the committee must take reasonable steps to make sure parents understand the proceedings, including arranging interpretation in the circumstances described in its guidance. TEA guidance on parent participation.

During the meeting, it is fine to say, "Can you explain what that means for my child?" It is also alright to ask for a break during the meeting so you can have five to ten minutes to process and form your thoughts. Write down any follow-up questions and check what happens next before you finish.

Need help getting ready?

I help families organize their concerns, understand school documents, and prepare questions before an ARD meeting. JEM Advocates serves Katy and the greater Houston area, with meeting support commonly provided through Zoom.

If you would like help preparing, book a free consultation. We can talk about what is coming up and where you need support. You can also read more about our advocacy services, such as our attendance at your child's ARD, or browse the parent FAQ.

This page provides general information. Individual circumstances can affect the process.