How to Collect IEP Data (without losing your sanity!)

🕒 Course Length vs. Professional Development Credit: This course includes 16 lessons, each designed to take approximately 10-30 minutes to complete, including content, templates, and optional reflection or practice.

While the total instructional content equals about 8 hours, participants will receive 3 Continuing Education Credit (CEC) hours upon completion. PD hours reflect verified instructional time only, not optional practice, implementation, or bonus content that may be added in the future. We review our CEC/PD hours annually.

Participants who complete the IEP Data Collection for Teachers course in full are eligible to receive 3 Professional Development hours 3 CEC hours (Continuing Education Credits).

A certificate of completion will be issued once all modules are completed.

Course Objective: 

By the end of this course, participants will understand how to efficiently and accurately collect, organize, and interpret data to support IEP development and ongoing progress monitoring. Educators will learn practical strategies to streamline documentation, ensure compliance, and use data to make informed decisions that drive student support and services.

📈 Feeling Lost in the World of IEP Data Collection?

If you’ve ever felt like IEP data collection is one big mystery that leaves you scratching your head, trust me—you’re not alone.

Data can be confusing for both parents and teachers, and it's easy to feel like you're stumbling around in the dark. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. We’ve created something special to break down the art of data collection, so you can finally feel like you’re in control.

Introducing: The Understanding IEP Data Collection for Parents Module

This module, crafted by me (Lisa Lightner of A Day in Our Shoes) and Emily, a special education teacher with a Masters in Special Ed, is your new go-to guide for understanding and using IEP data to truly advocate for your child.

Why This Matters

Let’s be clear: Our goal isn’t to tell teachers how to do their job. It’s about providing accessible and practical resources for parents (and teachers) who want to better understand this crucial part of the IEP process—because let’s face it, you might not be getting this kind of training from your school district.

IDEA—A Guide, Not a Rulebook

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) tells us that progress monitoring is important, but it doesn’t prescribe exactly how to do it. This means there’s flexibility, and that’s where things can get confusing. But don’t worry—we’re here to make it clear.

What You’ll Learn:

🔍 Understanding IEP Data Collection: Break down what data collection really means and why it’s so important for your child’s education.

📊 The Nuts and Bolts: Get practical advice on what data to collect, how to collect it, and why it matters.

📉 Unlocking Progress Monitoring: Learn how to monitor progress effectively so you always know where your child stands.

🧩 Making Informed Decisions: Understand how data helps you make smart decisions about your child's IEP.

🌟 Rooted in Best Practices: This isn’t just theory—everything is grounded in real-world best practices, so you’ll be prepared to navigate the IEP process with confidence.

Your Path to Clarity

This module isn’t just about learning data; it’s about giving you confidence and some of your personal time back. 

Ready to take control of the data? Dive into the Understanding IEP Data Collection for Parents Module today!

✅ Professional Development: About PD Hours & CECs from Don’t IEP Alone

At Don’t IEP Alone, we know how important meaningful, relevant professional development is for busy teachers—and how hard it can be to find high-quality training that actually helps in the classroom.

While we are not currently an accredited CEU provider through a specific state or national organization, many school districts accept certificates of completion from self-paced training programs like ours, especially when the course content is clearly educational, time-stamped, and well-documented.

📄 What You’ll Receive Upon Completion

Each course or bundle from Don’t IEP Alone includes:

• A certificate of completion with:

  • Learner’s name

  • Course title and description

  • Total instructional hours

  • Completion date

  • Learning objectives

  • Instructor name

• Optional reflection forms or quizzes to support internal documentation

• Clear outlines of content covered to share with your administrator if needed

Note: Acceptance of PD hours or CECs is always subject to your local district’s policies, Act 48 and approval. We recommend checking with your administrator or PD coordinator before submission.

How to Use This for Professional Development Credit

Most U.S. school districts allow teachers to submit outside PD hours for credit, provided that:

• The content aligns with your role or instructional responsibilities

• The course provides clear evidence of instructional time

• A certificate and documentation are included

We are happy to provide a “Professional Development Approval Request” one-pager for you to submit to your district, along with course documentation.

👩‍🏫 About the Team Behind the Training

Our courses and materials are developed by Lisa Lightner, a nationally recognized special education advocate, former teacher, parent, and author of Your IEP Playbook: A Parent’s Guide to Confident Advocacy. Lisa has supported thousands of families, teachers, and IEP teams since 2010 and brings over a decade of frontline advocacy experience to everything she creates.

Lisa works in collaboration with a certified teacher who holds a master’s degree in special education, ensuring that all course content is grounded in both real-world advocacy and classroom expertise. Together, we design practical, actionable training that helps teachers feel more confident, competent, and supported in their IEP work.