No. The school cannot make changes to your child’s IEP without holding an IEP meeting or getting your written agreement. If they did, that’s a procedural violation.
What the Law Says
Under IDEA, your child’s IEP is a legally binding document. It can only be changed in two ways: through a full IEP team meeting where you participate, or through a written agreement between you and the school to amend the IEP without a meeting.
34 C.F.R. § 300.324(a)(4) & (a)(6) — Changes to an IEP may be made either by the entire IEP Team at an IEP Team meeting, or by amending the IEP through a written document agreed to by the parent and the public agency. In either case, the parent must be involved.
What Counts as a “Change”
Any of the following require your involvement and consent:
Reducing service minutes (speech, OT, PT, counseling). Removing an accommodation or modification. Changing your child’s placement or classroom setting. Altering goals or objectives. Adding or removing a related service. Changing the frequency or duration of any service.
If your child’s services were reduced, an aide was removed, or their classroom placement changed and you didn’t agree to it in writing — the school violated your procedural safeguards. This is grounds for a formal complaint.
What About Prior Written Notice?
Even when changes are discussed at a meeting, the school must give you Prior Written Notice (PWN) before implementing any change. This document must explain what they want to change, why, what data they used to make the decision, and what other options they considered.
34 C.F.R. § 300.503 — Written notice must be given to parents a reasonable time before the school proposes or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or provision of FAPE to the child.
What to Do If It Already Happened
Step 1: Request a copy of your child’s current IEP and compare it to the last version you signed. Look for any differences in services, minutes, placement, or accommodations.
Step 2: Send a written request (email is fine) asking the school to explain when and why the change was made, and to provide the Prior Written Notice for it.
Step 3: If they cannot produce documentation showing your consent, file a state complaint. The change must be reversed under “stay-put” protections.
34 C.F.R. § 300.518 — During any dispute, your child has the right to remain in their current educational placement. The school cannot implement a change you haven’t agreed to while the issue is being resolved.