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Cherry-Picked in the IEP Meeting: How Schools Misuse Data, Test Scores, and Accommodation Compliance to Deny Support
Episode 2643rd March 2026 • The Collaborative IEP • Ashley Barlow
00:00:00 00:19:02

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Do you ever leave an IEP meeting thinking, “That one test score does not tell the whole story”?

In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we tackle what happens when schools rely on a single data point — a MAP score, an iReady number, one behavior report, or one teacher comment — to justify denying services or changing placement.

This installment in the “Seven Simple Solutions to Solve Your Sticky IEP Situations” series focuses on Smoke and Mirrors — when rhetorical or incomplete information takes over the conversation.

You’ll learn:

  1. How to spot cherry-picked data at the IEP table
  2. Why one test score should never drive big decisions
  3. What it means to TCB (Take Care of Business) in your advocacy
  4. How to stay calm, collaborative, and firm when the team leans on weak arguments
  5. How to refocus the conversation on comprehensive, objective data

If you’re navigating special education meetings and want to advocate clearly — without escalating conflict — this episode gives you a practical mindset shift you can use immediately.

Listen now and learn how to push back on incomplete data while staying strategic at the IEP table.

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