My Child Has an IEP but Needs More Help
What to do when your child already has an IEP but the current services aren't enough — including how to request additional services and call an IEP meeting at any time.
Page Information
Jurisdiction: Federal IDEA + California special education law
Reviewed: Pending expert review
This page is informational but is still being reviewed by a special education expert. Some details may change.
My Child Has an IEP but Needs More Help
If your child has an and is still struggling, you are not overreacting — and you are not alone. An IEP is supposed to help your child make meaningful progress, and if that is not happening, something needs to change. The good news is that you have the right to request more support at any time, and the school must take your concerns seriously.
The Quick Answer
You can request an IEP meeting at any time — you do not have to wait for the annual review. Put your request in writing, describe what you're seeing, and ask the school to schedule a meeting to discuss additional services or changes to the current plan. The school must respond to your request.
Your Rights in This Situation
- You can call an IEP meeting whenever you need one. You do not have to wait for the annual review or the next scheduled meeting. If your child's needs have changed or the current plan is not working, you have the right to request a meeting, and the school must hold one within 30 days of your request (under California law).
- The IEP must provide meaningful progress. The Supreme Court has made it clear that an IEP must be reasonably calculated to enable your child to make progress appropriate to their circumstances. If your child is falling further behind or has stalled, the IEP may not be meeting this standard.
- You can request additional evaluations. If you believe there are areas of need that haven't been assessed — attention, behavior, speech, motor skills — you can request a new evaluation at any time.
- The school must give you if they refuse. If you ask for more services and the school says no, they must explain the refusal in writing, including what evidence they relied on and what alternatives they considered.
Tip
If the school tells you "the IEP is fine" but your child is clearly struggling, trust what you're seeing. You know your child better than anyone. Data matters — and your observations are data. Document what you're noticing and bring it to the meeting.
What to Do
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Document your concerns. Before contacting the school, write down specifically what you are seeing. Be as concrete as possible: "My child's reading level has not improved in six months." "My child comes home crying every day because they can't keep up." "The speech therapy goals from last year have not been met." Specific observations are more powerful than general frustration.
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Put your request in writing. Send an email to your child's case manager or special education director requesting an IEP meeting. State that you are concerned about your child's progress and want to discuss additional services or changes to the IEP. Keep a copy.
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Review the current IEP and progress reports. Before the meeting, look at your child's IEP goals and the most recent . Is your child meeting their goals? Making progress? If the progress reports show little or no growth, that is strong evidence that the current plan is not working.
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Come to the meeting with specific requests. Don't just say "my child needs more help." Be prepared to say what kind of help: more minutes of specialized instruction, a different reading program, additional speech therapy, a behavior support plan, counseling, or a one-on-one aide. The more specific you are, the harder it is for the school to brush off your concerns.
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Ask for data. At the meeting, ask the school to show you the data that demonstrates your child's progress — or lack of it. Ask: "What data shows my child is making progress on these goals?" If the school cannot produce data, that is a serious concern.
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Request Prior Written Notice if the school says no. If the school refuses to increase services or make changes you've requested, ask for a . This forces the school to put their reasons in writing, which becomes part of the record.
Sample Letter: Requesting an IEP Meeting for Additional Services
Dear [Case Manager or Special Education Director],
I am writing to request an IEP meeting for my child, [Child's Name], who is in [grade] at [School Name]. I have concerns about [Child's Name]'s current progress and would like to discuss whether additional services or changes to the IEP are needed.
Specifically, I am concerned about: [describe 2-3 specific concerns — for example: "the lack of progress on reading goals over the past two reporting periods," "increasing behavioral challenges that are affecting my child's ability to learn," "my child's continued difficulty with written expression despite receiving services"].
I would like the IEP team to consider [describe what you're requesting — for example: "increasing specialized instruction time," "adding occupational therapy," "conducting a new assessment in the area of behavior/attention," "revising the current goals to be more appropriate"].
Under California Education Code Section 56343.5, I understand that the school must schedule this meeting within 30 days of this written request. Please contact me at the information below to arrange a mutually convenient time.
Thank you, [Your Name] [Your Contact Information] [Today's Date]
Tip
Bring a trusted person with you to the IEP meeting — a family member, friend, or parent advocate. You have the right to bring anyone who has knowledge about your child. Having support helps you stay focused and makes sure important details don't get missed.
Learn More
- IEP Meeting Rights — Your full rights at IEP meetings, including who can attend and how to prepare
- Prior Written Notice — What the school must give you in writing when they propose or refuse a change
- Dispute Resolution — Your options if you and the school cannot agree on your child's services
When to get one-on-one help from an advocate or attorney
Consider contacting an advocate or attorney if any of these apply:
- The district fails to respond to your assessment request within 15 days, misses the 60-day assessment deadline, or repeatedly refuses requests you've made in writing.
- Your child is losing instruction time, being disciplined frequently, or showing significant regression.
- The district wants to move your child to a different school or classroom against your wishes, or you are preparing for mediation or due process.