Which of the following best describes how the IEP team should proceed when a student's parents call on the day of an IEP meeting saying they cannot attend due to transportation issues?

• A. The IEP team should continue the meeting without the parents.
• B. The IEP team should help the parents find transportation.
• C. The IEP team should offer to reschedule the meeting to a mutually agreed-upon time.
• D. The IEP team should ask the parents whether another family member can attend.

Answer: (C)

Parental participation in IEP meetings is essential, and meetings should be scheduled at a time that works for families to ensure their input is included. If the parents can’t attend on the day due to transportation, the team should offer to reschedule to a mutually agreed-upon time so they can participate. This upholds their right to be involved in decision-making about their child’s services. The team should not proceed without them, and options like arranging another family member’s attendance don’t substitute for the parents’ direct input. If feasible, you can also offer remote participation (conference call or video conference) to accommodate transportation barriers, but the key action is setting a new meeting time that works for everyone.