IDEA entitles children with exceptional
needs to an "appropriate"
education that meets their unique needs. It is a
law that creates a formal process for evaluating
children with disabilities and for providing specialized
programs and services to help children succeed
in school.
What is included in an appropriate education?
- Assessment
of your child in all areas of
suspected disability.
- Appropriate
annual goals to measure your
child's progress.
- Your
Child's Classroom Placement
Consideration must be given to the
full spectrum of placements
including general education,
resource classes, special day
classes, public or non-public
schools, or residential schools.
- Other
Educational Components
Related services such speech
therapy or occupational therapy,
specific curricula and teaching
methods adapted for the child's
disability, behavior programs,
extended school year ... to name
a few.
|
How
do you figure out what constitutes an
appropriate education for your
"individual child?"
An
Individualized Education Plan
(known as an
IEP)
is developed at a meeting that
includes a team composed of the
child's parents and
professionals from your school
district. The team will write
the IEP and include assessments,
annual goals, placement and
other educational concerns.
The term IEP refers to
several related things:
- Initial
IEP
Meeting
After assessing your
child, the school
district will
convene a meeting to
determine if your
child is eligible
for special
education services.
- Annual
IEP Meeting
The annual meeting
where you and the
school develop your
child's educational
plan for the
following year.
- IEP
Document
The IEP will contain
your child's
assessments,
educational
progress, annual
goals, placement,
related services,
necessary
accommodations and
modifications and
other information
required by federal
and state law.
|
|
|
|
What
if you think the IEP
is not working?
| You
may request, in writing, another
IEP meeting to discuss your
concerns.
|
|
What if you flat disagree with the
school district's decisions
regarding assessment, eligibility,
placement or services?
You may appeal and request:
|
A
Due
Process Hearing
|
If
parents disagree with
the school district's
decisions regarding
assessment, eligibility,
placement or services,
they may appeal and
request a Due Process
Hearing.
A Due Process Hearing
before an impartial
Administrative Law Judge
of the Office of
Administration Hearings
will be conducted. Prior
to a hearing, and within
15 days of receiving
notice of the complaint,
the school district
shall convene a
Resolution
Session. If the
issues are not resolved,
then parents may elect
to go to a mediation
where a neutral mediator
will facilitate
negotiations between the
parents and school
district to reach an
agreement.
If an agreement is not
reached in mediation,
then parents maintain
the right to proceed to
a hearing.
|
|
|
