Chapter 5: Pupil Evaluation Team (PET)

The Parent's Role at the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET) Meeting

The following suggestions are offered to help support your involvement as an equal member of the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET):

• Arrive on time, and leave young children at home.
• Be sure you are introduced to everyone present.
• Stay calm, listen, be courteous and stay as relaxed as possible.
• Bring a support person with you who can take notes or help you stay focused.
• Share information about your child, by having written documentation to share with everyone and ask that it be attached to the PET minutes. This includes your Homefile, samples of your child's school work to validate your concerns, and a report of your own about your child's strengths and needs.
• Ask questions if you don't understand something and make sure that all of your questions are answered.
• Ask for an explanation of any technical language or abbreviations used by professionals at the meeting.
• Come prepared with questions, concerns and suggestions that you want addressed.

Some parents have found it helpful to tape record the meeting. This allows you to focus on the meeting without feeling like you have to take notes. It also allows you to share the proceedings with another family member who was not able to attend. Listening to the tape later in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere may help you to understand what was said more clearly and may also raise more questions. People tend to be more careful and positive with their comments when being taped. However, sometimes the use of a tape recorder can be intimidating and may limit discussion. Decide for yourself what will work best in your situation.

"Parents shall be permitted to audio record any PET meeting regarding their child at their own expense. Schools may also audio record PET meetings, in which case the recording becomes an educational record subject to the provisions of Part 15, Education Records, of these rules." (MSER, Chapter 10, Section 8.10, p. 41)

At the end of the PET meeting, have the conclusions read aloud and determine who is responsible for any actions to be taken. Make sure that all services, determinations, modifications, adaptations, goals and objectives decided upon during the meeting are written into the Individual Educational Plan (IEP). This should include the amount or frequency of consultative services, monitoring services, direct instruction and/or supportive services that will be provided. It should also state who will provide those services. You may also ask for a copy of the draft document (a photocopy of the notes taken at the meeting) and copies of any written reports submitted during the PET meeting.

Schools are required to keep a written record of the meeting. Be sure to review your copy of the PET minutes which the school must provide within 21 school days.

Timeline for PET Minutes PET minutes will be sent from school to parent(s) and requesting PET members within 21 school days

If you disagree with portions of the PET minutes, prepare a written statement outlining the area of disagreement and ask that the minutes be amended to reflect your concern. The school has 15 days from receiving the parent's request to respond. The school may agree to place a copy in the educational file, amend the record, or notify the parent of its refusal to amend and advise the parent of the opportunity for a hearing depending on your request (MSER, Chapter 101, Section 15.8A) or that a copy of your statement be placed in your child's educational file.

You may be asked to sign an attendance sheet that shows that you attended the PET meeting. This does not mean that you agree with all the decisions of the PET. You should also be aware that parental signatures are not required on the IEP, although some schools like to have the parents sign the IEP as an indication of approval.

Timeline for Written Referral for Special Education School provides parental consent form 15 school days after receipt of the written referral.