If your child has an IEP in Ohio, you’ve probably faced the moment at the end of a meeting when someone hands you the signature page and says, “go ahead and sign here.” It can feel intimidating to speak up about any disagreements or hesitations you may have in the moment. Many parents worry that signing an IEP means giving up their rights, while refusing to sign it might stop their child from getting the help that they need.
The good news is that Ohio law provides some flexibility, and you can sign an IEP while still making it clear that some parts may still need work. When you understand your options, the process becomes much less stressful.
Your Rights Under Ohio’s IEP Process
Ohio follows federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or “IDEA”) but adds its own rules. One of the most significant parental protections under Ohio law relates to options to sign an IEP. The signature section of Ohio’s IEP form gives parents several choices, and each one means something different.
Some parents may choose to sign an IEP in full agreement. Others sign only to show they attended the IEP meeting. Parents, when the IEP is brand‑new, can also decide to give “partial consent” to the parts of the IEP that they support while withholding consent from others. This last option is available only for a child’s first IEP, and it can be incredibly helpful when you want services to begin without agreeing to everything the school has proposed.
Once your child already has an IEP in place, the rules are a little different. In Ohio, schools are generally allowed to put a revised IEP into effect even if a parent chooses not to sign, unless the change involves a change of placement. Even in the case of subsequent IEPs, parents can sign while maintaining objections to certain parts of the document.
You Can Disagree and Keep Services in Place
Many parents worry that disagreeing with an IEP might disrupt their child’s special education services. But you do not necessarily lose services simply because you disagree with your child’s special education team. You can express your concerns, maintain your rights, and allow the school to continue providing the services your child needs.
One of the most common ways to do this is to sign the IEP for “attendance only” or sign while explicitly stating you do not agree with certain parts of the document. You can write your disagreements right on the IEP signature page, or you can attach a separate page outlining the parts of the IEP for which you have objections. Many parents find it easier to write a brief attachment to include with the IEP, titled something like “Parent Statement of Disagreement.” Doing so gives you the space to explain, in your own words, which portions of the IEP you believe are incomplete, inaccurate, or not appropriate for your child.
For example, you might disagree with a proposed reduction of reading intervention minutes, the removal of counseling services, or a lack of progress‑monitoring details surrounding your child’s IEP goals. Whatever the issue may be, writing it down and including it in your child’s education record ensures your concerns are documented and preserves your rights in the event that you may need to pursue administrative remedies later on.
After You Note Your Disagreement, the District Must Act
If you’ve asked for something the school is refusing (e.g., additional minutes of support, a change in placement, or particular accommodations) it is critical to request something called a Prior Written Notice (“PWN”). Ohio requires schools to give this notice whenever they decline a parent’s request.
The PWN must explain what the school refused, why they refused it, what data they used to make the decision, and what other options they considered, but rejected. This is an important part of building a clear record and ensuring that you understand the district’s reasoning. Communicating in writing and requesting PWN are two of the most important steps a parent can take to preserve a child’s rights.
In simple terms, you may send an email that confirms that you attended the IEP meeting, that you have attached a statement of disagreement to the IEP, and that you are requesting PWN for anything the school declined. Sending such an email closes the loop and ensures nothing gets lost. A frequent issue we see is that verbal conversations with school staff members, without written follow-up, can result in an incomplete or inaccurate PWN, often as a result of simple misunderstandings. Sending written communications avoids these issues from the start.
A Parent‑Centered Strategy That Works
When considering how to respond to a proposed IEP, you’re not stuck choosing between “all or nothing.” You can support your child’s immediate needs and document where you expect the school to do better.
When families come to us unsure about how to sign an IEP they don’t fully agree with, we can help guide a strategy to preserve their child’s rights and ensure that the child receives the services that he or she needs.
No parent should feel pressured or confused at the IEP table. If you’d like help, whether drafting your disagreement statement, reviewing your child’s IEP, or understanding your options for next steps, our firm is here to support you. For more information or to discuss further, please contact our office today.