New Year, New IEP: Top Questions Parents Should Ask in January

By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate

January is the perfect time for families to revisit their child’s IEP with fresh eyes. The school year is halfway over—meaning you now have real data, lived experiences, and new insights into what is (and isn’t) working. Whether things feel smooth or rocky, asking the right questions now can set your child up for meaningful progress in the months ahead.

Here are the top questions parents should ask the IEP team in January to make sure supports, goals, and services are aligned with your child’s current needs.

1. Are the current IEP goals still appropriate based on mid-year data?

Children grow and change quickly. A goal that fit in August may no longer match their needs in January—either because it’s been mastered, or because it wasn’t ambitious enough.

Ask to review:

• Progress monitoring graphs

• Classwork samples

• Benchmark assessments

• Teacher observations

You want to ensure goals are meaningful, measurable, and not outdated.

2. Is my child on track to meet their annual goals by the end of the year?

If the trend lines show slow or inconsistent progress, the plan may need adjusting.
If the child is exceeding expectations, the team may need to increase the rigor.

January is the best time to catch these trends before too much of the year passes.

3. Are the supports and accommodations being used consistently?

Accommodations only work if they’re actually implemented.

Ask:

• Are accommodations used daily or only occasionally?

• Are all teachers aware of them?

• Do we need to add, remove, or adjust anything based on my child’s current challenges?

This helps prevent gaps in implementation and ensures everyone is on the same page.

4. Has anything changed about my child’s needs since the start of the year?

Maybe your child had a new diagnosis, increased anxiety, behavior changes, social challenges, or new areas of academic struggle.

The IEP should evolve with your child—not stay frozen in time.

5. Are the services (minutes, frequency, and type) still appropriate?

If your child is not making progress, it may be time to ask about:

• Increasing service minutes

• Changing instructional approaches

• Considering more intensive interventions

• Adding related services (OT, speech, counseling, AT, etc.)

Services should match the need—not the schedule.

6. Are there any concerns from teachers or staff we need to address now?

Sometimes teams wait until the annual meeting to bring up concerns.
You don’t have to wait.

Ask each provider:

• What’s going well?

• Where are they struggling?

• What patterns have you noticed?

• What next steps do you recommend?

Early communication prevents bigger issues later.

7. What are the next steps if progress continues to be limited?

If the data isn’t showing expected growth, IDEA requires the team to adjust the plan.

Ask:

• What changes will we make now?

• What will trigger additional changes?

• Do we need updated evaluations or new assessments?

Being proactive now saves your child months of ineffective instruction.

Final Thoughts

January is a natural reset point. By asking thoughtful, targeted questions, parents can ensure the IEP remains current, data-driven, and fully supportive of their child’s success.

At Education Advocates of America, we believe every child deserves an IEP that evolves with them—and every parent deserves the tools to advocate with confidence. If you need help reviewing your child’s plan, interpreting data, or preparing for a mid-year meeting, we’re here to support you.