PARENT POWERBY TAMI JOIA, ADVOCATE

Controlling the Outcome

• Create a Paper-trail • Everything is in writing• Wait 3 days for a response from the district• Send another letter, refer to the previous

letter and inform the district that if they don’t respond in writing, you will file a complaint.

• You will get a response, quick, fast and in a hurry

The Response

• May not answer your question• May request a Team Meeting to

discuss your request• May call you on the phone instead

of answering your request in writing

• May not be truthful regarding the regulations to discourage you

Your POWER

Always respond in writing

Resend your request and cite 34 CFR

300.503

Add a timeline in the second request

Add their options, 1. Approve or 2. Refuse

Inform them that if they don’t respond in writing you will file a

complaint

Date, sign and make sure you can prove

receipt of your written request. Email is great.

You Can Request Anything Related to your Child’s IEP

Teacher’s Credentials

Training for a specific disability

Para’s credentials

All Requests are in writing, date, sign and make sure you can prove that

they received it.

You Can Request….

To observe the program they are offering before

your child starts the program

Transportation door to door for you special

needs child

Team Meetings all thru the school year, there is

no limit

You can request the number of students in that program and the

population being served

You can request ESY/Summer

programming in the IEP at the IEP team meeting

The District must respond to your requests

IN WRITING. No Team Meeting Requirements. Especially if the

district is REFUSING your request.

The District Refuses your Requests at a Team Meeting

Make sure that the IEP Team Meeting Notes, includes your request that you made during the team meeting and the team decision to deny. If it is not in there you have no proof of your request to the team. That would allow the district, after receiving your written request after the team meeting to request another team meeting to discuss your request. Its redundant and a Stall Tactic by the district.

So, make sure that the request and the team’s decision is included in the meeting notes and you can use that copy in your written request to support the reason why you are not interested in another team meeting to discuss what was already requested by the team and denied.

You will be able to add that this is an attempt by the district to stall, delay and deny your rights and you will be forced to file a complaint.

The IEP

It’s a contract between you and the district. The district is assuring that what is in the IEP will be implemented pursuant to the federal

IDEA requirements.If they don’t it is a violation of noncompliance and a denial of FAPE and your child could be

owed compensatory services.

A TIGHT IEP

No ambiguous words like, “as needed” or “at the teacher’s discretion

Make sure the goals and objectives match the issues found in the

evaluations

Make sure that the benchmarks are challenging, yet

attainable

Never sign or accept the IEP at the IEP meeting.

Bring it home and review it with the

Evaluations

Make sure the IEP includes ESY/Summer

don’t wait, especially if the team says yes to ESY

MAKE SURE THE IEP INCLUDES

AEAS OF DISABILITY AFFECTING THE STUDENT IN

OTHER EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, SUCH AS

Behavior, Social, Emotional make sure it is indicated on

the IEP

If Behavior issues, make sure that there is a Goal for

behavior and attach the Behavior Plan to the IEP

If there are Behavior Issues make sure that a Functional Behavior Assessment was

completed and the Corresponding Behavior Plan

Make sure the Behavior Plan is attached to the back of the

IEP

Other Goals and Objectives

Social Skills Training

Speech and Language Reading

ELA Reading Comprehension Math

All Academic Areas are covered given

the disability

Monitoring the Implementation of the

IEP

MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION: DISTRICT PROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION BY ALL TEACHERS

ADD- MONTHLY TEAM MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PROGRESS TO IEP

ADD- QUARTERLY IEP PROGRESS REPORTS TO IEP

ADD- PORTFOLIO OF COMPLETED STUDENT WORK BY TEACHER TO IEP

PARENT KEEPS COPIES OF ASSIGNMENTS AND TEACHER COMMENTS/NOTES TO PARENT

EVERYTHING MUST BE IN WRITING AT ALL TIMES

PARENT POWER BEGINS WITH PUTTING YOUR REQUESTS AND CONCERNS IN

WRITING, DATING, AND SIGNING AND SENDING TO SPED DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT.

THE PAPER-TRAIL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE….

Protects your rights and the rights of

your child

Proves that you made a request and

it was ignored by district

Can prove noncompliance and

support your allegations

Provides leverage against the district

Let’s the district know that you know your rights and how

to use them

PROVES THE DISTRICT HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES

District cannot deny their own words and written decisions.

Proves and supports your side of the story

Proves that the district may owe compensatory services

The Power of the Pen

Is your best friend…..

Do not believe everything you HEAR…

If it sounds crazy, its probably not true, make

‘em prove it in writing

If the district says its in the law make them give

you the federal requirements

If there is a state law that is more restrictive then federal, the state must change their laws

to align with IDEA

Always make them prove what they say

with the written policy and procedure

Make them work hard to lie and withhold services

& supports from your child

Its all about the Unique Needs of the Student… Its NOT ABOUT

• The Unique Needs of the District• A “cookie-cutter” approach to special

education programs and/or services• The School District’s Budget and/or the lack

thereof• The Principal or Teacher• Or the lack of professionals, services or

supports not being available in the district…

Question Everything

Don’t just accept their answers

Don’t believe everything they say, especially about federal regulations

Make the put it in writing

The Written Paper-trail is your complaint

You need the regulations that were violated

You need the written documents to support your allegations

File the complaint, site the regulations violated, add your evidence

Add your remedy such as, independent evaluations, compensatory services,

districtwide training, etc

FILE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS OFTEN

This sends a message to the district, you and your child are not to be

toyed with and you know your rights