10 Questions Every Texas Parent Should Ask at Their ARD Meeting

Walking into an ARD meeting without a plan is like showing up to court without a lawyer. These 10 questions will help you stay focused, get clear answers, and make sure your child's IEP actually works.

Before the Meeting Starts

1. "Can everyone introduce themselves and their role?"

This seems basic, but it matters. You need to know who is in the room and what their role is on the ARD committee. Under IDEA, certain members are required — a general education teacher, a special education teacher, an LEA representative (someone who can commit district resources), and someone who can interpret evaluation results. If any required member is missing, the meeting may not be valid unless you've signed a waiver.

2. "Can I get a copy of the draft IEP before we start?"

Many Texas districts prepare a draft IEP before the meeting. You have every right to see it in advance — ideally 3 to 5 school days before the ARD. If you're seeing it for the first time at the table, ask for a few minutes to review it before discussion begins. Remember: a draft is a starting point, not a final document. You can propose changes.

About Your Child's Progress

3. "Is my child making meaningful progress toward their current IEP goals?"

This is the most important question you can ask. "Meaningful progress" means more than just showing up. Ask for specific data — percentages, scores, work samples. If the school can't show you data, that's a red flag. Goals without data tracking are goals without accountability.

4. "How are you measuring progress, and how often?"

Texas requires progress reports at least as often as general education report cards (usually every 6 or 9 weeks). Ask what tools the teacher is using to measure progress: curriculum-based measures, probes, observations, rubrics? If the answer is vague, request more specific data collection methods be written into the IEP.

About Services and Accommodations

5. "How many minutes of each service is my child actually receiving per week?"

The IEP lists service minutes — but are they actually being delivered? Ask for a service log or attendance record. If your child is supposed to receive 150 minutes of speech therapy per week and they're only getting 90, the district is not implementing the IEP as written. That's a compliance issue.

6. "What accommodations are being used in the general education classroom, and are they working?"

Accommodations like extended time, preferential seating, or modified assignments are only useful if teachers are actually using them. Ask whether the general education teachers are aware of and implementing the accommodations listed in the IEP. If not, ask what the district will do to ensure compliance.

About Goals and Placement

7. "Are these goals ambitious enough?"

The Supreme Court's 2017 Endrew F. decision established that IEP goals must be "appropriately ambitious" in light of the child's circumstances. If a goal asks your child to improve from reading 20 words per minute to 25 words per minute over an entire year, that may not be ambitious enough. Push for goals that challenge your child to make real progress — not just maintain the status quo.

8. "Is this the Least Restrictive Environment for my child?"

Under IDEA, your child should be educated alongside non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. If the school is proposing a more restrictive placement — moving from inclusion to a resource room, or from a resource room to a self-contained classroom — ask what data supports that decision and what supplementary aids and services were tried first.

About Your Rights

9. "Can I get Prior Written Notice for the changes being proposed today?"

Any time the school proposes to change (or refuses to change) your child's identification, evaluation, placement, or services, they must provide you with Prior Written Notice. This is a legal document that explains what they're proposing, why, and what alternatives they considered. Always request it.

10. "What happens if I disagree?"

You are not required to agree with the ARD committee. In Texas, you have the right to a 10-school-day recess to consider the proposal. You can also submit a written statement of disagreement, request mediation, file a TEA complaint, or request a due process hearing. Knowing your options gives you leverage.