A new measure signed into law this month aims to level the playing field for parents navigating the often-complex special education system in Illinois.

Public Act 104-0047 amends the School Code to ensure parents and guardians are informed of their right to bring advocates, experts, or support persons to Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.

For many families, IEP meetings, where a student’s special education services, goals, and accommodations are determined, can be intimidating. Parents often find themselves sitting across from a team of school administrators, psychologists, and teachers, feeling outnumbered and overwhelmed by technical jargon.

Under the new law, school districts will be required to include a specific notification in the standard meeting invitation sent to parents. This notice must inform them of their right to invite “individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child,” including professional advocates or support staff.

In return, the law adds a practical request: the notice will ask parents to inform the school in advance if they plan to bring additional participants, allowing the district to make necessary logistical arrangements.

Beyond just bringing an advocate, the law promotes “IEP Facilitation,” a dispute resolution tool that many parents may not know exists.

The act mandates that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) prepare written materials explaining the state’s IEP facilitation process. Schools must then distribute this information to parents alongside other standard IEP documents.

IEP facilitation is a voluntary process where a neutral third party joins the meeting not to make decisions, but to keep the discussion focused on the student’s needs.