The Wrightslaw Way

Special education services, especially ABA services for children with autism, are expensive. In most states, demand is increasing. At the same time, for many programs, local funding is decreasing. Is this problem causing more schools to make up their mind in advance? Are districts developing unofficial policies of pre-determining what programs they will use based […]

I know that you get a lot of heat, but I can testify that it is very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are walking backwards. I really needed you to turn me around and show me the way. I’ve learned so much through your website and this […]

Does my daughter, who has an IEP, have to be served by resource classes or can she be totally in mainstream classrooms? “Special education” under IDEA is not a place or placement or a pre-packaged program. Special education is a “service for children rather than a place where such children are sent.” Special education is […]

The IEP team, including the parents, agreed that a student would receive homebased instruction for  part of the day for instruction in academic  subjects.  He would attend vocational courses at the school the rest of the day.  The school division superintendent decided to override the IEP team placement. Can he do that? The Individuals with […]

The Board of Directors of our public schools is being urged to adopt a plan that would segregate all elementary school children with physical disabilities into one of the district’s five elementary schools. Is this illegal? The board member proposing this said “It’s not about education.  It’s about buildings.”  He promotes neighborhood schools close to home […]

I am a high school psychologist. What is the law for students who have already been tested 2 times. Colleges and our state Voc/Ed  Services tell me I need to do a WAIS AND achievement testing every three years – no matter what -  even if the student is placed appropriately. 1) When should I […]

New Book! Wrightslaw: All About IEPs is at the printer now! Shipping second week of December                        $12.95    Order now Answers more than 200 frequently asked questions & introduces key legal issues Outlines your rights & responsibilities and explains the law in plain language you can understand Provides the reference source of information, the […]

I am a special education teacher. I have some concerns and questions about how students are receiving the mandated special ed services. 1. Is there a legal definition of self-contained classroom setting? 2. What constitutes a change of LRE when there has been no official meeting to place a student in a particular setting? There […]

My child attends school ‘out of district’ because our district had no program for a multiple needs-high needs student. He has one year left of school (age 20). Now the home school district wants to save money by making a new classroom for this program. My son will need to move and adjust to another […]

Do I have a right to observe the class before agreeing (or not agreeing) to a placement for my child? The special ed director said I cannot observe the class because of confidentiality issues with the other children. Some schools take the position that parents and/or their representatives cannot observe a child in the classroom […]