What to Do When a School Isn’t Following an IEP
If you have a child with an IEP, you’ve probably had that moment where something feels off.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Maybe accommodations aren’t happening.
Maybe services are inconsistent.
Maybe communication is vague or missing entirely.
And you’re left wondering: Is this allowed?
Short answer: no. But what to do next isn’t always obvious.
What schools are supposed to do…
An IEP is a legal document.
That means schools are required to:
provide the services listed
implement the accommodations consistently
follow the plan as written
Not “when possible.” Not “when there’s time.” Not “when staff is available.”
The school’s reality…
In reality, breakdowns happen:
staff shortages
lack of training
poor communication
unclear systems
Sometimes it’s not intentional. But it still affects your child.
Get specific
Before escalating anything, get clear on:
what the IEP says should be happening
what is actually happening
Examples:
“Speech 2x per week” → happening once or not at all
“Extended time” → not being offered during tests
“Small group support” → child placed in full class setting
Write it down. Document, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!
Be direct but, use a calm message
Reach out to the teacher or case manager. You always catch more flies with honey!
Keep it simple and focused:
“I noticed that [specific support] isn’t happening consistently. Can you help me understand what’s going on and how we can make sure it’s implemented?”
You’re not accusing. You’re documenting and opening the door.
If you STILL feel stuck…
If things don’t improve:
follow up in writing (email)
reference the IEP directly
keep communication clear and factual
This creates a record, which is important.
Request a meeting
If the issue continues: request an IEP meeting
You can say:
“I’d like to meet to review how the IEP is being implemented and make sure supports are in place.”
This signals that you’re taking it seriously.
Know your leverage
You don’t have to threaten anything. In fact, never threaten!
But understand:
schools are legally responsible for implementation
consistent failure to follow an IEP is a compliance issue
If you’re dealing with this right now
This is one of the most common situations I see. I receive daily messages about this exact problem.
It’s frustrating because you know what your child needs, and it’s already been agreed to. It’s just not happening.
If you want help figuring out what to say or how to approach it, I offer support for situations like this.
