Which statement best describes the rights of parents under IDEA regarding IEP meetings and documentation?

• A. They can unilaterally change IEP goals without meetings.
• B. They can approve all school budget items.
• C. They can select the student's entire curriculum for the year.
• D. They can participate in IEP meetings, receive notice, request meetings, review records, and challenge decisions under IDEA.

Answer: (D)

Parents have important procedural and participatory rights under IDEA that center on involvement in their child’s education. They may participate in IEP meetings, receive notice of those meetings and proposed actions, request additional meetings when needed, review and inspect their child’s educational records, and use IDEA’s processes to challenge or resolve disagreements about the plan. These rights ensure parents are informed, included, and able to advocate for services that fit their child’s needs.

The statement in question captures these rights precisely: it describes active involvement in IEP meetings, access to notices and records, the ability to request meetings, and the option to challenge decisions. In contrast, unilateral changes to IEP goals without a meeting, control over school budgets, or parents selecting the entire curriculum for the year aren’t rights granted under IDEA, since those areas are determined through the IEP team process and district decisions with family input.