A Dear Colleague Letter The US Department of Education (DOE), in an effort to keep families and educators informed, has produced a number of Dear Colleague Letters on topics of concern. Among these are two addressing issues around discipline, suspension/expulsion, and the use of School Resource Officers (SRO’s). These are critical topics of concern considering the Read More
Category: What Questions Can I Ask
Questions to ask your child’s teacher, IEP team, and other professionals regarding your child’s educational goals and progress.
Q&A – Should the Whole Team be Present for an IEP?
Amending the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Q: My son’s special education teacher informed me she wants to have a meeting to amend his Individualized Education Program (IEP). It is not time for his annual review, but he has met some goals and objectives and she would like to change them. Do you think this is a Read More
Q&A – IEP vs 504
You Asked, We Answered! Question One: My son was evaluated by my district and they determined that he was not eligible for an IEP but recommended a 504 plan. I asked for a copy of the Evaluation Report at the meeting and was told they would get it to me as soon as it was finalized. That was Read More
Surrogate Parents in Education
The role of the surrogate parent in education is to assure that a student in special education receives a free appropriate public education. The surrogate parent has the same rights and interests of the parent as defined through both state and federal regulations. There are regulations governing the identification, qualifications, and appointment of surrogate parents. Read More
What Are Your Rights and Responsibilities to an Appropriate Education for your Child with a Disability?
As the parent of a child who has disabilities, you have the right to: Expect a free, appropriate public education (F.A.P.E.) for your child. Refer your child for an evaluation for a 504 plan and/or for special education. Meet with the school district to decide whether or not to evaluate your child to determine if he Read More
What are Procedural Safeguards?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide the parents/guardians of a student who is eligible for or referred for special education with a notice containing a full explanation of the rights available to them. School districts must provide parents a copy of the Procedural Safeguards: At least once every school year. Read More
My child has behavior problems in school. What should I do?
When the behavior of a student with an IEP gets in the way of his or her learning or that of others, the IEP team must develop behavior goals or a behavior plan. Behavior plans are not punitive. They are positive plans describing how the school will support positive behavior through instruction or changing the Read More
The school wants to use Aversive Intervention, what do I do?
What is aversive intervention? Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Section 392-172A-03120 sets out the following: Aversive interventions means the systematic use of stimuli or other treatment which a student is known to find unpleasant for the purpose of discouraging undesirable behavior on the part of the student. The term does not include the use of reasonable Read More