Who has to be on the IEP team? Required members and roles

By the IEP Atlas editorial teamLast updated November 1, 2026

Short answer

The IEP team must include you, at least one general education teacher, at least one special education teacher or provider, and a school district representative. Someone must also be able to explain what evaluation results mean for teaching. Your child joins when it makes sense, and you or the school can invite others who know your child.

The list of required members comes from a federal rule, 34 CFR 300.321.^[1] It is the same in every state, though states can add to it. Knowing the list helps you spot when someone is missing and ask why.

For what happens at the meeting itself, see the IEP meeting guide.

The required members, in plain words

Member	What the rule says	What they usually do at the meeting
You, the parent	Parents are full members of the team.	Share how your child is doing at home, your worries and your goals.
General education teacher	At least one, if your child is or may be in general classes.	Explain what the class expects and what supports work there.
Special education teacher or provider	At least one.	Often the case manager. Reports on goals and progress.
District representative	Someone who can supervise special education, knows the general curriculum, and knows what resources the district has.	Can commit the district to services. Often a principal or special education coordinator.
Someone who can explain test results	A person who can say what evaluations mean for teaching. Can be one of the people above.	Often the school psychologist or a specialist who did testing.
Your child	Whenever appropriate. Must be invited when transition planning is discussed.	Talks about strengths, likes and what helps.
Others you or the school invite	People with knowledge or special expertise about your child.	A therapist, a relative, an advocate, a former teacher.

One person can fill more than one role. For example, the special education teacher may also be the person who explains testing. What matters is that each role is covered.^[1]

Many schools pass around a sign-in or attendance page. Here is a made-up one for a child named Lila, age 9. Hold it next to your child's paperwork.

Name and title on the page	Role covered	Note
Rosa Diaz, parent	Parent	You.
Mr. Patel, grade 4 teacher	General education teacher	Required because Lila spends most of her day in grade 4.
Ms. Kim, resource teacher	Special education teacher	Lila's case manager.
Dr. Okafor, school psychologist	Explains test results	Present because a reevaluation was reviewed.
Mrs. Lane, assistant principal	District representative	Can agree to services on behalf of the district.
Ms. Ruiz, speech-language pathologist	Invited by the school	Provides Lila's speech therapy.
Ana Diaz, aunt	Invited by the parent	Helps with homework three nights a week.

Lila did not attend. At age 9 that was the family's choice. Many teams invite children for part of the meeting starting in the upper grades.

What if someone required is missing?

A required member can be excused only if you agree in writing. If the meeting will discuss or change that person's area, they must also send written input before the meeting.^[1] The school should not simply skip a required person and go ahead.

If you arrive and the general education teacher is not there, you can say so. You can ask to reschedule, or to continue only if the teacher's input is in writing and you agree. The details are in IEP team member excusal.

Who decides who else can come?

The person who invites someone decides whether that person has knowledge or expertise about your child.^[1] So you decide about the people you bring, and the school decides about the people it brings. The meeting notice must tell you that you have this right.^[2]

It helps to tell the school ahead of time who you are bringing. It is a courtesy, not a federal rule. Some families bring an advocate; see bringing an advocate to the IEP meeting.

Questions to ask the team

You can say these word for word.

"Who will be at the meeting, and what is each person's role?"
"Who is the district representative, and can they agree to services today?"
"Will someone be there who can explain the test results?"
"Is the general education teacher coming? If not, can I see their written input first?"
"Is anyone being excused? I would like to see the excusal form before I sign it."
"Should my child come to all or part of the meeting?"
"Can my child's outside therapist join by phone?"

What to do next

Read the list of attendees on your meeting notice. Compare it with the table above.
If a role looks missing, email the case manager before the meeting and ask who will cover it.
Decide who you want to bring, and let the school know.
Use the IEP meeting checklist for parents to get ready, and look over the questions to ask at the IEP meeting.
Check when your child's next annual review is due with the IEP due date calculator.
For free help, contact your state's Parent Training and Information Center. You can find yours through the Center for Parent Information and Resources.^[3]

Frequently asked questions

Does the general education teacher have to come to the IEP meeting?

At least one general education teacher must be on the team if your child is, or may be, in general education classes. They can be excused only if you agree in writing, and in some cases they must send written input first.

Can I bring a friend or relative to the IEP meeting?

Yes. You can bring people who have knowledge or special expertise about your child, and you decide who fits that. Many parents bring a relative, a friend who takes notes, or an advocate.

Is the principal required at an IEP meeting?

Not by title. A district representative is required, and that person must be able to supervise special education and know what resources are available. A principal often fills this role, but so can a coordinator.

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Sources

34 CFR §300.321: IEP Team, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
34 CFR §300.322: Parent participation, U.S. Department of Education (IDEA website)
Center for Parent Information and Resources, CPIR
The IEP Team, CPIR

Written and checked by the IEP Atlas editorial team under our editorial policy. This guide describes general practice and federal rules. It is not legal advice; your state may add requirements, and the IEP team makes the decisions for each student.