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I have an IEP meeting scheduled next week.  My daughter was hospitalized for the 3rd time at end of Feb then transferred to Residential Treatment Center.  Life has been overwhelming for me (and her also).  I am taking things day by day.  Anyway, the school psychologist sent me the meeting notification and told me I would be asked what my "educational goals" are for my daughter... . does anyone know what she means by this?  Does she mean I want her to attend school every day and get good grades, or would I need to have more specific goals?  Has anyone here been through this?

How old is your daughter?  I would assume the psychologist means long term goals such as career goals.  What is she interested in?  Where do you see her working after she graduates?  Do you see her graduating or getting a ged?  Will she be able to live on her own or in residential?  Can she perform daily acts of living on her own?  Is it more important she follow the academic curriculum or is it more important she learn how to function independently in society. I would guess that is what the psychologist meant.

The psychologist might mean what are your long term educational goals for your daughter or she may be thinking of her annual goals.  There is a section of the IEP where you and the team develop specific, measurable annual goals in various academic areas.  Parents should be asked what their goals are for their child and these goals should be incorporated into the final version of the IEP.  I would contact the psychologist and ask her what she means.

My 15yo daughter has an IEP... . Personally, when they "what are your educational goals?" it is a very simple question. In my daughter's case, she had missed a few months of freshman year due to "depression/anxiety" and so her "educational goals" were: "To attend school regularly." You might also add, "To complete courses appropriate to her grade level." Very, very basic. The reason you would want to include "attend school regularly" is that the purpose of the IEP is to agree on what your child needs, and then make it the school's responsibility to see that that happens. Therefore, it is their responsibility to do whatever it takes to get your kid into school on a regular basis. If, for example, taking midterms and finals freak your kid out to the point where they won't go to school, the school can and should waive those tests.

Making the goals very broad gives you more leeway down the road to ask for whatever accommodations your kid needs.

Thanks everyone, you've all been so helpful.  My daughter is 14 and just finishing up 8th grade.  The IEP will be for High School.  She does have long term goals -- she wants to be a neurologist and psychologist. I don't know if that is possible however, I am very encouraging and will support her in whatever she wants to do.  I think the best things to do are make a long term and short term goal list for her and take it to the IEP meeting.  I did learn from another parent last night that if she is having problems with the social aspects of school, she would possibly be eligible for on-line high school courses.

I'm sorry to butt back in... . but the point of an IEP meeting is not to talk about long-term goals. It is only to talk about what accommodations the high school will need to make to help your child come to school every day, and learn on a level playing field with the other children. (Like if you child was in a wheelchair, they would need to install ramps etc.) Not sure you know, but there are a boatload of accommodations the school can give you... . If your daughter has ADD and can't follow verbal lectures (like mine), they have to give her copies of the lecture. If your daughter is too socially anxious to attend school for periods of time, they can home school her on like you said online courses for credit. Or if a particular class raises her social anxiety, they can give her a different teacher, change her seating etc. Don't feel guilty about asking.

Not the entire case. An iep especially at the high school level is to start preparing students for their careers and employment after high school. I am a special ed teacher and write them all the time. Even in elementary school you are always looking at student interests and keeping those interests in mind when looking at classes and educational choices and programs.

I don't think they are looking to talk about long term goals but I think at least knowing what my goals and my daughters goals are will prepare them to provide services to reach them?  I had no idea what to expect at this meeting but thanks to all the responses to my posts, you've all give me a lot of ideas to prepare for the meeting.  I feel so much better and so thankful that I found this website!