More Than a Meeting: Creating IEPs that Guide Meaningful Practice (3 Day Event) 10/28/2026 - 12/09/2026 Event Dates: 10/28/2026 | 11/18/2026 | 12/09/2026
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
LACOE Division of Special Education presents a 3-part professional learning series designed to strengthen the development and implementation of meaningful IEPs. Participants will explore writing strong present levels, implementing practical accommodations to maximize classroom inclusion, and facilitating authentic parent/guardian participation. Each application-focused session will provide practical strategies and tools that educators can immediately use. Attend one session or complete the full series to create IEPs that move beyond paperwork and guide meaningful practice throughout the year.
Wednesday, October 28th 3-4pm Where the IEP Begins: Writing Present Levels That Drive Meaningful Goals and Services
Strong present levels of academic achievement and functional performance provide the foundation for every major decision in an IEP. This session focuses on using current, relevant, and understandable data to clearly describe a student’s strengths, needs, baseline performance, and the educational impact of the disability. Participants will examine how well-written present levels connect logically to goals, accommodations, services, supports, and progress monitoring. Practical examples will help participants identify vague or incomplete statements and replace them with individualized descriptions that support defensible, educationally meaningful decisions.
Wednesday, November 18th 3-4pm Practical Accommodations for Maximizing Inclusion
A student’s Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is supported by the accommodations we put in place. In this professional learning session, we will explore practical, easy-to-implement accommodations that support attention, behavior, and academic access in the general education setting. We will focus on collaborative strategies between case managers and general education teachers to ensure supports are effective, sustainable, and promote student independence.
Wednesday, December 9th 3-4pm From Invitation to Influence: Facilitating Meaningful Parent and Guardian Participation in the IEP Process
Meaningful participation means ensuring that parents and guardians are not only present at an IEP meeting but are respected and engaged as essential members of the team. This session examines practices that promote transparency, understanding, collaboration, and shared decision-making before, during, and after the meeting. Participants will explore strategies for explaining complex information clearly, eliciting family input, responding thoughtfully to questions and concerns, and documenting the team’s consideration of parent perspectives. The session will also highlight ways to reduce barriers and build trust with families from diverse cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds.
LACOE does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of age, actual or perceived race, actual or perceived gender, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. LACOE complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to all qualified individuals with a disability. If you are disabled and require assistance in accessing this event, please contact the LACOE Title II Coordinator at (562) 803-8297.
Event Details
Audience
Special Educators and those who supervise them
Facilitator(s)
Eliana Ramirez Matthew Roper LaVinna Gray
Location
Online (Webinar, Online Class, Etc.) Note: Zoom link will be sent at a later date.
