Special School District to use 'Charting the Life Course' tools in IEP meetings to center student and family voice

Adrienne Eagle, director of the Family and Community Engagement division at the Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD), described a districtwide plan to incorporate Charting the Life Course tools into Individualized Education Program meetings to center student and family voices and make IEPs easier to understand.

"We believe that you as the family member are an equal partner and are an expert on your student," Eagle said, explaining the change aims to make goals "more meaningful and focused on your student's planned outcomes." She said the tools will be used at school before meetings and families will receive copies to prepare in advance.

The SSD presentation lays out a three-year timeline to train staff across the district's geographic area that serves 22 partner districts and 266 schools. Middle and high school staff will be trained in the first year, elementary staff in the second, and early childhood services in the third. In year one, staff are required to complete three IEPs using the new tool; families eager to start earlier can request a case manager to pilot the process with their student.

Eagle described two primary tools that will structure meetings. The "All About Me" tool asks students (and families) to list strengths, cultural values, what is important to them and how best to support them. The trajectory tool captures long-range vision, past experience and specific skills or supports needed to reach goals. "Starting with the student, layering in the family, and ending with staff" is the order Eagle said SSD will use to shift speaking time and center student choice.

She told attendees the district has worked with assistive technology and augmentative communication teams to create icon-based visual aids so low-verbal students can participate, and that conversation prompts and meeting-based accommodations will be available.

Eagle emphasized procedure and documentation: the meeting will present data on current functioning, the team will develop goals during the planning section, and the case manager will write the IEP from meeting conversations. Families will receive a copy and can request amendments if something was omitted.

To support rollout and family engagement, SSD will offer webinars and events, including a Sept. 30 webinar on Charting the Life Course, a Family Academy on Oct. 11, and Unity Day on Oct. 22; Eagle also noted an in-person family leadership series in November and a Feb. 17 workshop. She encouraged families to reach out to their case manager with time concerns and to use FACE division resources for one-to-one support.

An attendee asked how the specific needs of students will be addressed given meeting timelines. Eagle replied there is no mandated meeting length and encouraged families to share concerns with case managers ahead of meetings so teams can prepare; she reiterated the change is intended to expand, not reduce, services.

The SSD presentation closed with an invitation to provide feedback via a post-meeting survey and to use online resources and webinars as the district implements the new IEP format.