You arrive and the IEP is printed and ready to sign. The team says, 'We already decided on the services.' What could you say?
Explanation: Parents should take part in decisions. A calm request to treat it as a draft keeps the conversation open.
Getting an Evaluation
The school says your child must finish 12 weeks of reading interventions before it can evaluate. Is that right?
Explanation: Interventions and an evaluation can happen at the same time. Using interventions to put off testing is a red flag.
IEP Meetings
It's February, and your child is falling further behind. The annual IEP is not until October. What can you do?
Explanation: Parents can ask for an IEP meeting at any time. Put the request and your reasons in writing.
Disagreements & Your Rights
You disagree with the school's evaluation. What can you request?
Explanation: If you disagree with the school's evaluation, you can ask for an IEE. The school must pay for it or ask for a hearing to defend its evaluation.
Discipline
The school plans to suspend your child for 15 days in a row. What must happen within 10 school days?
Explanation: A removal of more than 10 days in a row is a change of placement. That triggers a manifestation determination.
Section 504 Plans
You've raised missed accommodations with the teacher and principal, and nothing changes. Who's the next contact?
Explanation: Districts must name someone to oversee 504 compliance. They can help when school-level talks stall.
Section 504 Plans
After you complained about 504 problems, your child was suddenly cut from the school play. What might this be?
Explanation: Schools may not retaliate against families who raise disability rights concerns. Write down dates and what happened.
Section 504 Plans
Which is the best example of a 504 accommodation?
Explanation: 504 plans often include accommodations like seating, breaks, or extra time. Specially designed instruction is usually through an IEP.
Services & Placement
The IEP says 60 minutes of reading help a week. Service logs show your child got about 20. What should you ask for?
Explanation: Missing IEP services is a problem the school should fix. Ask in writing how and when the missed time will be made up.
Reading the IEP
Progress reports say 'progressing' every quarter, with no numbers. What should you ask for?
Explanation: Progress should be measured with data. Seeing numbers lets you tell whether your child is really closing the gap.
Reading the IEP
Your child's behavior keeps getting in the way of learning, but the IEP doesn't mention behavior. What can you ask?
Explanation: When behavior blocks learning, the team must consider positive behavior supports. A behavior assessment can help plan them.
Discipline
Your child brought a weapon to school. What's different?
Explanation: Weapons, drugs, and serious bodily injury are 'special circumstances.' Services still continue in the other setting.
Section 504 Plans
Your son takes medicine for ADHD, and the school says he's fine on it, so no 504 is needed. What's true?
Explanation: Eligibility looks at the condition without mitigating measures like medicine (regular eyeglasses are the exception).
Reading the IEP
Your child loses skills every summer and takes months to recover. What should you ask about?
Explanation: ESY is decided for each child by the IEP team. Bring data on skills lost over breaks and how long they take to come back.
Reading the IEP
You learn a new math teacher has never seen your child's IEP. What's true?
Explanation: Teachers and providers need to know their responsibilities to follow the IEP. Ask the case manager how the IEP is shared.
Getting an Evaluation
You signed consent for an evaluation. What did you agree to?
Explanation: Consent to evaluate covers the evaluation. You decide separately whether to consent to special education services.
Disagreements & Your Rights
A teacher tells you on the phone that your child's aide will be cut next month. What's the smartest next step?
Explanation: A follow-up email documents what you were told. It also prompts the school to give written notice of the change.
Reading the IEP
Your child is 15. What should start showing up in the IEP soon?
Explanation: A transition plan must be in place by 16, and some states start earlier. It covers goals for school, work, and independent living.
Getting an Evaluation
Your child struggles with reading and handwriting. The school's testing plan only lists reading. What should you do?
Explanation: The evaluation should look at every area of suspected disability. Name your concerns in writing so they are on record.
Disagreements & Your Rights
At a meeting, the school refuses your request for more speech services. What should you ask for?
Explanation: When the school refuses a change you ask for, it must explain in writing. That notice lists the reasons and what was considered.
IEP Meetings
The speech therapist won't be at the meeting, but the school wants to talk about speech services. What can you do?
Explanation: A team member can be excused only with your written agreement. You can ask for written input or reschedule.
Discipline
At the manifestation meeting, you show the school hadn't provided the counseling in the IEP for months. Why does this matter?
Explanation: There are two questions at this meeting. One is whether the school's failure to follow the IEP caused the behavior.
Getting an Evaluation
The school refuses your evaluation request in a phone call. What should you ask for?
Explanation: A school that says no must explain its reasons in writing. That notice also gives you something to respond to or challenge.
Discipline
You learn your child was held in a room alone for an hour. What should you do?
Explanation: Rules on restraint and seclusion vary by state. Getting it in writing helps you understand what happened and what to do next.
Disagreements & Your Rights
You want to try to settle a disagreement with help from a neutral person, without a hearing. What's this called?
Explanation: Mediation is free and voluntary. A written agreement from mediation can be enforced.
Section 504 Plans
The 504 plan says 'extra time as needed.' Your child rarely gets it. What's the best fix?
Explanation: Specific wording is harder to skip and easier to check. 'As needed' leaves too much to chance.
Disagreements & Your Rights
You want to read everything in your child's school file before the IEP meeting. What's true?
Explanation: Parents can review their child's education records. Ask in writing and list what you want to see.
Reading the IEP
Your child's IEP goal says: 'Sam will improve his writing skills.' What's the main problem?
Explanation: A goal should name the skill, the target level, the date, and how progress will be measured. Otherwise no one can tell if it was met.
IEP Meetings
The team hands you the IEP and asks you to sign now. You're not sure about some parts. What can you do?
Explanation: You can take time to read the IEP. Ask what your signature means and when they need an answer.
Disagreements & Your Rights
The school isn't providing the services in your child's IEP, and talking hasn't helped. Which option is free and usually faster than a hearing?
Explanation: A state complaint asks the state to investigate rule violations. It's usually decided within about 60 days.