Understand the process. Participate with confidence.
Your child was referred for an evaluation, or your first IEP meeting is on the calendar. The IEP Journey walks you through each stage in plain language, with checklists, worksheets and fictional sample documents you can study at your own pace.
One path, in the order you'll live it
The First IEP Journey follows the real sequence of the special education process, so you always know where you are and what comes next.
Start Here
What special education and an IEP are, who's on the team, and the full process map.
The Evaluation
Referrals, consent, types of assessments and how to read an evaluation report.
Eligibility
The IDEA disability categories and how the team makes an eligibility decision.
Understanding the IEP
Present levels, goals, accommodations, services and placement, section by section.
The IEP Meeting
How to prepare, what to ask, and how to share a different view respectfully.
After the Meeting
Implementation, progress reports, annual reviews and reevaluations.
What you'll get
- Short, self-paced lessons in plain language
- Printable checklists and worksheets for every stage
- A fictional evaluation report and a fictional IEP, annotated line by line
- Clear labels for what's federal (IDEA) and what varies by state
- Links to your state's official special education resources
What this is not
- Legal advice or advocacy for your child's case
- A promise about eligibility, services or outcomes
- A replacement for your state's Parent Training and Information Center, an advocate or an attorney
- A place to upload your child's real records
Start with the free guide
"Your Child Was Referred for an IEP Evaluation. Now What?" explains what a referral means, what consent means, which documents you may receive and the questions you can ask.
Made by a teacher and parent who has sat on both sides of the table
Hi, I'm Tiana Bourne. I'm a teacher and a parent. I've seen how much information families are handed at the start of special education, and how little of it is organized for someone who's never done this before.
The information parents need already exists, spread across federal regulations, state websites and parent centers. The IEP Journey puts it in order: one stage at a time, in plain words, with tools you can print and use.
How we build every lesson
- Facts come from official sources first: the IDEA regulations (34 CFR Part 300), the U.S. Department of Education and state education agencies.
- Every rule is labeled federal or state-specific, because timelines and forms differ by state.
- Lessons about rights and safeguards are reviewed by a qualified professional before they're published.
- All sample documents are fictional. No real student's information is ever used.
The First IEP Journey
Self-paced lessons and printable tools for every stage of your first IEP. Cancel anytime.
Our first members will get a special founding rate and early access, in exchange for feedback as we build. Join the waitlist to hear first.
Join the waitlistIncluded
- Six core modules plus a bonus module: When Things Don't Go as Planned
- Checklists, worksheets and a meeting preparation tool
- Annotated fictional evaluation report and IEP
- Terminology guide
- State-by-state directory of official resources
Release plan
Modules 1 and 2 open at launch. Modules 3–6 and the bonus module follow on a published schedule, about one every two to three weeks.
Pricing and membership terms will be posted before enrollment opens. See our privacy policy.
Questions parents ask
Who is The IEP Journey for?
Parents and caregivers in the U.S. who are new to special education: your child was just referred for an evaluation, you have a first IEP meeting coming up, or you received an IEP and want to understand it.
Is this legal advice?
No. The IEP Journey is general education about how the special education process works. For advice about your child's situation, contact your state's Parent Training and Information Center, a qualified advocate or a special education attorney.
Does it cover my state?
The lessons explain the federal law (IDEA) that applies in every state, and clearly mark the parts that vary. Each member gets a directory of official resources for all 50 states and DC so you can check your own state's rules.
Do I need to share my child's IEP or records?
No, and please don't. We never ask for real student records. All examples use fictional students and schools.
Are there live calls or coaching?
No. The membership is fully self-paced so you can learn whenever you have time, including late at night.
How long does it take?
Lessons are short. Most parents can work through a module in one or two sittings and come back to the tools before each meeting.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Memberships can be cancelled anytime. Full terms will be posted before enrollment opens.
Is the free guide really free?
Yes. Join the list and we'll email it to you as soon as it's ready. You'll also get a few short emails explaining the evaluation process, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Get in touch
Questions about the membership or your account? Send a note and we'll reply within 2 business days.
Email us anytime at hello@theiepjourney.com.
Please don't include your child's name or school records.
FREE PARENT GUIDE
Your Child Was Referred for an IEP Evaluation. Now What?
The IEP Journey
Just got the referral? Start here.
A short, plain-language guide for the first weeks after a special education referral. It's in final review now: join the list and we'll email it to you the day it's ready.
- What a referral means, and what it doesn't
- What happens next, step by step
- What signing consent means
- Documents you may receive
- 10 questions you can ask the school
- Where to find trustworthy, official help in your state
You'll get the guide when it's ready, plus a few helpful emails. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.
Privacy policy
Effective date: November 11, 2026
The IEP Journey ("we," "us") provides general educational information for parents and caregivers. This policy explains what we collect on theiepjourney.com and how we use it.
What we collect
- Your first name and email address, when you sign up for our free guide or waitlist.
- What you choose to send us when you email us.
- Basic technical information that our website host and email provider record automatically, such as IP address, browser type and pages visited, used to run and secure the services.
What we ask you not to send
Please don't send us your child's name, school records, evaluations, IEPs or medical information. We can't review individual cases, and we don't need this information to help you.
How we use your information
- To send the free guide and short educational emails.
- To tell you about The IEP Journey membership.
- To answer your messages.
Every email includes an unsubscribe link. We do not sell your personal information.
Services we use
We use Systeme.io to store our email list and send emails, and Cloudflare to host this website and forward our email. These companies process information on our behalf under their own privacy policies.
Children
This site is for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us information, email us and we will delete it.
Your choices
You can unsubscribe at any time, or email us to ask what information we hold about you, or to correct or delete it. Depending on where you live, you may have additional rights under your state's privacy laws.
Changes and contact
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. Questions: hello@theiepjourney.com