Your first IEP meeting in Union County: what to ask and what to sign

Practical tips for Union County families on IEP meetings, what to ask, forms to expect, and NJ-specific resources like PerformCare and NJ FamilyCare.

Published August 30, 2026 · Union County, New Jersey

Before the meeting: gather your records

Your first IEP meeting happens after the school district has evaluated your child and found them eligible for special education. In Union County, the school district that runs the evaluation is your local public school district. The 21 municipalities in the county each have their own district, but some like Elizabeth Public Schools or Cranford Public School District share resources. You do not need to bring an attorney, but you may bring a friend, family member, or an advocate. A good place to start is to call the district's special education director and ask for a copy of the evaluation report at least five school days before the meeting. NJ law gives you that right.

Bring a notebook. Write down your child's strengths, challenges, and any therapies they currently receive such as ABA. If your child is under 3, the New Jersey Early Intervention System is the entry point, not the school district. For children age 3 and older, PerformCare is the single access point for the Children's System of Care. You can call them to ask about coordination with the IEP.

At the meeting: five questions to ask

1. What specific goals are written for ABA therapy?

ABA therapy is not automatically included in an IEP. The team must determine that your child needs it to receive a free appropriate public education. Ask the team to read the goals aloud. Goals should be measurable, observable, and tied to the school day. For example, "increase on-task behavior during math instruction from 3 minutes to 10 minutes." If the goals are vague, ask for a revision before you sign.

2. Who will provide the ABA services and who supervises them?

Some school districts employ their own Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) or contract with a provider. Union County has 52 registered ABA providers on the federal NPPES registry, and 17 of the 21 municipalities have at least one provider in town. Every town has a provider within 7 miles. Ask whether the provider is a district employee or an outside agency. If it is an outside agency, ask how the district ensures the ABA is consistent with the school's behavior plan.

3. How will the school district communicate with your outside ABA provider?

If your child already receives ABA through NJ FamilyCare (the state Medicaid/CHIP program) or a managed care plan such as Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, you need a release of information form signed by you. The school cannot share records without it. Ask the case manager to give you a consent form at the meeting. Do not assume that your outside provider will automatically get a copy of the IEP.

4. What happens if the IEP does not meet your child's needs?

You have the right to disagree. If you feel the proposed ABA goals or service hours are too low, ask for a written explanation of how the district arrived at that number. You can request an independent educational evaluation at public expense if you disagree with the district's evaluation. The district must either pay for it or file for a due process hearing to defend their evaluation. This is a formal step, but you can mention it at the meeting to show you are informed.

5. What is the district's policy on parent training?

ABA is most effective when parents reinforce skills at home. Ask if the district offers parent training sessions, either through the school BCBA or through a contract provider. This is not always guaranteed, but it is worth asking. If the district says no, you can request it be added to the IEP as a related service.

What to sign and what not to sign

At the end of the meeting, the school will present a document called the Notice of Meeting and the proposed IEP. You do not have to sign the IEP on the spot. You can take it home and review it. The only thing you should sign is the attendance sheet, which simply confirms you were there. If you sign the IEP, you are agreeing to implement it immediately. If you are unsure, write "I am taking this home to review" on the signature line and date it. NJ law gives you 15 calendar days to request a new meeting if you change your mind, but you can also ask for a meeting sooner.

There is also a form called the Notice of Parental Rights. You should sign only a receipt for that notice, not the waiver of any rights. If the district asks you to sign a "consent for initial placement" or "consent for services," read it carefully. You can consent to one part of the IEP (such as speech therapy) while withholding consent for another part (such as a specific ABA program). You have the right to do that under NJ code.

After the IEP: next steps

If the IEP includes ABA therapy, the school district must implement it within 30 calendar days of your consent. If you are using NJ FamilyCare or a managed care plan, the school may bill that plan for some services, but they cannot charge you a copay. After age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities takes over adult services. That is far off, but keep it in mind for transition planning starting at age 14.

If you live in a town with many ABA providers like Union (9 providers), Cranford (7), Clark (6), Westfield (6), Elizabeth (4), or Linden (4), you may have more options for independent providers to supplement the school's services. No provider is named here because this guide does not sell therapy. Your role is to coordinate between the school team and your outside team.

Remember: the IEP meeting is a conversation, not a final judgment. You are an equal member of the team. Write down your questions, bring a support person, and take the document home if you need time. Union County schools are required to follow the same federal and state laws as every other district in New Jersey. Use that knowledge to make sure your child gets the ABA they need.