Key2Ed Gets Results

Hear from Patti Buckmiller at Redlands USD.

Patti Buckmiller, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at Redlands Unified School District, shares her experience with Key2Ed and implementing the Facilitated IEP Process.

IEP Facilitation training works and shows results!

  • The training led to an improved IEP process, shifting from a traditional, document-focused approach to a more collaborative, conversational, and student-centered method.
  • Participants reported a more consistent process through strategic tools and techniques such as agendas, outcomes, parking lots, norms, group memory, roles, and facilitative language.
  • The facilitative process increased team members’ participation and understanding, making meetings more collaborative and ensuring that all voices were heard.
  • Facilitative language techniques helped in asking strategic questions, clarifying concepts, and managing conflicts, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of IEP meetings.
Graphic showing a reduction from 30 due processes per year to 4 after implementation of FIEP in Redlands USD

Implementing FIEP Saved Redlands Unified Over $100,000 in the First Year.

After fully implementing FIEP, Redlands USD experienced a dramatic decrease, reporting only 4 Due Process Cases for the 2024-2025 fiscal year (down from up to 30 in prior years), and a substantial reduction in parent attorney fees to $20,750 (down from $126,900 before). 

86% of Parents Surveyed in 2020 “Strongly Agree” That the FIEP Process Contributed to a Positive Meeting Environment

Parents frequently commented on feeling that “all of my concerns were addressed” and that the team developed “the best plan to help my son”.

There was consistent feedback about staff being “friendly and very helpful”, “very professional”, and appreciative of the detailed explanations provided

Overwhelming Facilitator Endorsement of Effectiveness

IEP facilitators themselves overwhelmingly recognize the positive impact of the process: in 2020, 99% of facilitators agreed that the use of Facilitated IEP (FIEP) tools and/or prevention strategies positively guided the outcome of the IEP meeting.

 Facilitators noted that FIEP was instrumental in keeping meetings on track, especially when discussions veered off-topic or involved contentious parties. The process was also highlighted as being “greatly helpful with initial IEPs” for parents who were new to the process.

Significant Reduction in Formal Disputes and Associated Attorney Fees

 (For a school district that initiated Facilitated IEP implementation in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017, there has been a considerable and steady decline in student-filed OAH cases, dropping from 40 in FY 2016-2017 to 18 in FY 2023-2024. The total number of OAH cases for this district also decreased from 56 in FY 2016-2017 to 24 in FY 2023-2024.

 

 

FEEDBACK

What Parents & Staff Members Say

Group Of Designers Having Brainstorming Session In Office

“I felt like all of my concerns were addressed and that they have the best plan to help my son.”

“”The meetings are easy to Understand and go by pretty quickly because we are all on the same page.

Group Of Designers Having Brainstorming Session In Office

“The IEP was scheduled for 2 hours, and done within 30 min. FIEP helped organize the meeting.”

“The Parent Partner reported this was the most well organized IEP she has ever attended.”

Portrait of disabled student kids in element school with woman teacher and normal student use chalk to drawing and writing creative art on chalkboard together

“The FIEP process helps greatly with initial IEPs with parent who do not have prior knowledge of IEP processes.”