Article

Walk Into IEP Meetings Prepared—Without the Panic

Raise your hand if you’ve ever opened your calendar and realized you had an IEP meeting tomorrow — and you haven’t pulled progress data, reviewed the last goal update, or jotted down a single note. We’ve all been there. Kit for Teams helps you prep without the panic.
By Lisa Kathman, M.S. CCC-SLP

Raise your hand if you’ve ever opened your calendar and realized you had an IEP meeting tomorrow — and you haven’t pulled progress data, reviewed the last goal update, or jotted down a single note. We’ve all been there. Kit for Teams helps you prep without the panic.


What IEP Prep Usually Looks Like

If you’re like most special education teachers, prepping for IEP meetings might involve:

  • Digging through binders or folders for old notes

  • Guessing how many minutes you’ve served

  • Copying sticky notes into your progress updates

  • Emailing therapists for their input

  • Hoping the report you pulled from your spreadsheet is up to date

It’s not that you don’t have the data — it’s just not where you need it when the meeting rolls around.


Kit Keeps Everything in One Place

Here’s how Kit helps you prep for IEP meetings without the last-minute scramble:

  • Visual Progress Graphs: Pull up a student’s performance over time, including trendlines and individual session data.

  • Attendance Tracking: Quickly see if services match the IEP — and whether missed sessions need to be discussed.

  • To-Do Checklists: Use IEP prep templates or create your own with due dates and notes, so you never miss a step.

  • Session Notes & Audio: Review recorded observations or notes from recent sessions to include in your PLAAFP or team discussion.

“I used to dread prepping for IEP meetings. Now I pull everything from Kit and feel totally prepared.” — Monica, Special Education Teacher


What It Looks Like In Practice

Before your next IEP meeting, just:

1. Open the student’s profile in Kit

2. Click into their goals to view graphs and notes

3. Review attendance totals and service minutes

4. Check your IEP prep to-do list

5. Pull everything into your district’s IEP system

No scrambling. No guesswork. Just solid documentation at your fingertips.


Why It Matters

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) emphasizes that IEP meetings must be informed by the student’s progress toward measurable goals. The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) reinforces that educators must “systematically collect and use data” to make instructional decisions and communicate clearly with families.

Having this level of clarity during IEP prep helps you:

  • Speak confidently about progress and needs

  • Make decisions with data — not memory

  • Collaborate more effectively with the IEP team

👉 Explore CEC’s Ethical Principles and Practice Standards


Want to Try It?

Kit is designed by special educators who know how overwhelming this job can be. Start your free 14-day trial — no credit card required — and prep for your next IEP meeting with total confidence.

👉 Start my free trial


More from This Series

This blog is part of our Kit Feature Deep Dive series for special education teachers. Explore other posts in the series:

Lisa Kathman, M.S. CCC-SLP
Lisa Kathman is a veteran school-based SLP and the co-founder of SLP Toolkit, the parent company of Kit for Teams, and also co-founder of Bright Ideas Media, an inclusive, educator-led continuing education company. After two decades in the field — including serving as lead SLP in Arizona’s largest school district — Lisa is on a mission to simplify the day-to-day work of special education providers. She nerds out over data, documentation, and anything that helps special education teams feel more confident and less overwhelmed.

You might also like

Try Kit for free

Kit will be your new favorite companion in the classroom. Helping you keep your plans on track and tackle your goals so you and your students can succeed.