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The Global Insight

What happens during an ARD meeting?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on March 04, 2026

The ARD is a specific meeting where teachers and other support staff bring their expertise on education, and you bring your expertise on your child – their needs, abilities, and desires, and your expectations. Together, you write the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

What does ARD mean in Texas?

admission, review, and dismissal
In Texas, a child’s eligibility for special education and related services and most of the major decisions about a child’s special education program are made by an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee.

What is an ARD committee meeting?

The admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee is the team that meets to determine eligibility based on a full and individual evaluation report, and to develop an individualized education program (IEP) for the child, if applicable.

What are the two types of IEP meetings?

IEP Meetings

  • Initial. The Initial IEP Meeting is the first meeting after the child has been assessed and found eligible for special education services.
  • Annual. The Annual IEP Meeting is held once a year to review progress and update the IEP.
  • Triennial. The Triennial IEP Meeting is held every three years.

How do I prepare for ARD meeting?

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  1. Make sure the time and date work for you.
  2. Know your ARD Committee.
  3. Prepare your Child Info Toolkit and share it during the meeting.
  4. Bring someone who knows you and your child with you.

How long does an ARD meeting last?

Depending on a variety of factors, like the age, disability or placement of the child, these meetings can last from as little as an hour to over three hours.

What is the purpose of an ARD?

“ARD” is an acronym for Admission, Review and Dismissal. An ARD meeting is a meeting of a group of people who help to determine whether or not a student is eligible for special education and develops the Individual Education Program (IEP) for eligible students.

What are the 7 steps of the IEP process?

Let’s look at these seven steps in more detail to get a better understanding of what each means and how they form the IEP process.

  • Step 1: Pre-Referral.
  • Step 2: Referral.
  • Step 3: Identification.
  • Step 4: Eligibility.
  • Step 5: Development of the IEP.
  • Step 6: Implementation of the IEP.
  • Step 7: Evaluation and Reviews.

    Will an IEP hurt my child?

    An IEP will not stop your child from getting a job or from getting into college. In fact and college because they still would be entitled to assistance and the State of California may pay for their books. Also educational records are confidential therefore, no one would know your child had an IEP in school.

    What should I bring to ARD meeting?

    Documents you’ll want to bring with you might include the IEP student’s schedule (making not of any accommodations or modifications); data from assessments, online programs, and in-class activities; and a log of any behavioral issues and intervention strategies used to help resolve them.

    Is the ARD the same as the IEP?

    Other parts of the country may refer to both the document and the committee as IEP, but in Texas “ARD” is used to refer to the committee and its meetings. If you’ve never helped develop an IEP before, the process can seem overwhelming. Becoming familiar with all the steps will help you feel more comfortable.

    What does ARD mean in special education process?

    What ARD and IEP mean. One of the most important parts of the special education process is writing the plan for your child’s education. This is her Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP is the foundation for your child’s education, and you are a very important member of the committee that develops it.

    What happens at the end of the ARD meeting?

    Once the ARD meeting is done, and the IEP is created, it will be passed around for everyone to sign. When you sign, you can say whether you agree or disagree with the IEP. If you are comfortable with the IEP and think it’s a good plan for your child, you can sign that you agree.

    Why do I need an Ard meeting for my child?

    Here are some common reasons for an ARD meeting for a child who is approved to get special education services. Your child has just started school. Your child just got a diagnosis or new assessments. You are new to the district.