The Wrightslaw Way

My child is a freshman in high school. Her IEP includes this goal and objectives. Judy will improve reading comprehension skills by using graphic organizers to access the curriculum with 70% accuracy per quarter. The short term objectives are: 1. Judy will summarize or bullet important information in a variety of reading material with 70% […]

Update: September 2011. OSEP updated its guidance on identifying postsecondary goals in training, education, employment, and, where appropriate, independent living. Q and A: Questions and Answers on Secondary Transition http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner,10, This Q&A document supersedes the Department’s guidance of June, 2009. The requirements for transition services are found in the regulations at 34 CFR §300.43 and […]

The school wants to transition a  20 year old high school student to post secondary services. What documents establish the exiting criteria? There are no clear, specific documents to establish exit criteria for a 20 year old student, except for a regular high school diploma.  Absent that, exiting is not an option.

“I’m a special ed teacher who is looking for information on timelines for IEPs. My administrator said we have a “90-day” reprieve on an IEP when a new child moves into the district. I have always tried to hold an IEP meeting within the first week of school with students from out of district. Can […]

When I asked the IEP team about my daughter’s Summary of Performance, I got the “deer in the headlights” look – they didn’t even know what it was.  We finally got one in late summer when my daughter was already out of high school. What is the intent of a Summary of Performance?  What should […]

My son is in his senior year and has ADHD. We had an IEP. If he cannot pass the competency test the school will give him a certificate, not a diploma. He will continue to take the tests, but time is running out for him.  Is there anything I can do to help him? If your son has […]

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 […]

The implementing federal special education regulations for IDEA 2004 became effective in October 2006. Additional regulations were published in December 2008. In June 2009, OSEP published a revised series of question and answer (Q&A) documents prepared by OSERS to address some of the most important issues raised by requests for clarification on a variety of […]

If you plan to move or change schools, you need to get reliable information about the schools you are considering. These websites will help: Great Schools at http://www.greatschools.net/ School Matters at http://www.schoolmatters.com/

My daughter, 19, has Down syndrome. The district wants to keep her in high school. I do not feel it is appropriate. I have signed her up at a community college, paid for the courses and for a support person. I need the district to do some evaluations (assistive technology, vocational, etc.) to help me […]