Did you know that millions of families across the US have the right to record their IEP meetings?
Not so in Washington, where the all-party consent-to-record requirement has kept recording IEP (individualized education plan) meetings from becoming common practice. However, a Washington House Bill could change that this year.
HB 1051 Recording IEP Meetings would grant parents and guardians the right to audio record their students’ IEP planning meetings. Families have requested this change, because IEP meetings can be long, confusing, and fast-paced. As Rep. Jim Walsh describes in his testimony to the House Education Meeting, recording meetings could make it easier to remember and understand details and decisions made on behalf of students receiving Special Education services.
Across the country, Special Education advocates in many states make recording an IEP a matter-of-fact part of the IEP team meeting.
- Texas: Parents can record IEP meetings without any notification.
- California: A law requires parents give the school district 24-hour notice of their intention to record.
- Florida: As a two-party consent state, the law is similar to Washington. However, at least one school district, Sarasota, provides IEP team meeting recordings as long as the parent provides 48-hour notice.
- Virginia: The Law requires written notice, with no time requirement, if the parent plans to record the meeting. Even without written notice, parents can record an IEP meeting (in this case, they are required to provide the district a copy).
HB 1051 would grant parents and guardians the option to record IEPs in Washington. This has the potential to benefit many children with IEPs by giving their caregivers a better understanding of IEP meeting decisions. You can promote the vote and passing of HB 1051 by submitting a comment to your legislators.