Too many times schools misuse school removals as a behavioral management strategy and this is a clear violation of their right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Disciplinary removals impact a student’s learning. Rather than address the behavior, they call the parents to pick their child up because the child needs to “calm down.” Then, the school does not record that as a removal from school. The Office of Special Education Programs’ has a
Category: Special Education
What are early intervention services? How do I find them? Early intervention programs have a big impact on children with delays and disabilities. Identifying any concerns and addressing them in the early years will help them later. Services that are tailored to meet your child’s needs can help build the skills needed to be successful in school. If you are concerned about your child, talk to their pediatrician. You can find developmental milestones on CDC’s
How to determine if a 504 Plan is a good fit for your child. An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and a 504 Plan are programs that allow students with disabilities to receive help if they qualify. The goal of both programs is to help students. Parents don’t get to choose which one their child will receive; all students must go through a prescribed process to qualify. Federal law protects both programs. If you want to
This infographic outlines who is a parent as defined by federal law in relation to the Individuals with Disabilities Act. A parent has protected rights.
The infographic shows an outline of what is required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that ensures students’ age 3-21 have a Free Appropriate Public Education. You can link to a larger copy here.
The terms used at an IEP or 504 Plan meeting can be confusing. This link will bring you to a site that has great explanations for prominent terms used in special education meetings. Please remember, during any meeting with the school, you can ask for clarification. If you don’t understand something or something does not sound right, ask them to clarify. Ask them to explain it better if it still makes little sense to you.