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The Special Ed Advocate Newsletter
November 8, 2005


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Issue - 328
ISSN: 1538-3202

In this Issue

1.What Does IDEA 04 Say About . . . ?

2.IDEA 2004: Roadmap to IEPs

3.
Independent Educational Evaluations

4.
Do You Know the Difference Between a 504 Plan and and IEP? Do You Know Which is Appropriate When?

5.Ask the Advocate: Understanding the Playing Field: Power Struggles, Meetings, Follow Up

6. Coming Up! Wrightslaw Programs - MI & FREE Bootcamp in OKC

7. Subscribe & Contact Info

 

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What Does IDEA 2004 Say About IEPs and IEP Teams?

At Wrightslaw, our mission is to help you gain the information and skills you need to navigate the changing world of special education.

In this issue, we will tell you about some important changes in IDEA 2004, focusing on IEPs and IEP teams. We are also experimenting with a new format for the newsletter.


Your Requests for Help

"I'm from New York. I need an advocate who can help me get a better program for my child. Can you help?"

"I need to find a good ABA program in Texas? Can you help?"

"I need to get an evaluation of my child - Please held me find a good evaluator?"

Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities

To answer your requests for help, we built Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities for every state and territory.

Your state Yellow Pages includes listings for psychologists, educational diagnosticians, therapists, health care providers, academic tutors, special education schools, advocates, attorneys, support and study groups, and others who provide services to parents and children.

If you are looking for help, visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities!

Help Others - Distribute Flyers for the Yellow Pages

Millions of parents are looking for help. Reach out and give them a hand. Let them know about the Yellow Pages for Kids.

How?
Distribute flyers for your state Yellow Pages.

Where? At schools, day care centers, public libraries, doctor's and psychologist's offices, community centers, and hospitals.

Tip: Ask your school, public library, day care center, and support group to post your state flyer on bulletin boards and websites.

2. IDEA 2004: Roadmap to IEPs - How did IEPs change under IDEA 2004? What does the law say about developing, reviewing and revising IEPs? Who may be excused from IEP meetings, when, how? When can the child's IEP be changed without an IEP meeting?

What services must be provided when a child transfers to a district in the same state? A different state? What are “multi-year IEPs”?

We answer these questions (and more) in IDEA 2004: What You Need to Know About IEPs & IEP Meetings.

Note: This article is taken from Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 by Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright.


3. Independent Educational Evaluations

Parents and school personnel are often confused about what constitutes an independent educational evaluation (IEE) and how the evaluation is to be used. This article addresses what constitutes an IEE, the value of an IEE, what the law requires of school districts, and who is financially responsible for an IEE. Read this article by Wayne Steedman

Learn more about evaluations, tests and testing.

As a member of the Wrightslaw Speaker's Bureau, Wayne Steedman presents special education advocacy training seminars.


4. Do You Know the Difference Between a 504 Plan and and IEP? Do You Know Which is Appropriate When?

"My daughter has a 504 plan. On the last progress report, she received two F's. When I asked that she receive more help, the principal said she has to fail before the principal can request testing. The school team said they don't know why we want an IEP -- there is nothing we can't get with her 504 plan."
"Bottom Line: The school won't evaluate her and won't consider an IEP. What can we do?"

What are the differences between 504 Plans and IEPs? What strategies can parents use to get a better program? Do children have to fail before schools can evaluate? How do deal with gatekeepers?

For answers to these questions and a Wrightslaw Game Plan to get better services while maintaining a healthy working relationship with the school, read Child with 504 Plan Is Failing, School Won't Evaluate or Consider an IEP.


5. Ask the Advocate: Understanding the Playing Field: Power Struggles, Meetings, Follow Up Letters - Good special education services are individualized, intensive and expensive. Schools often balk at providing intensive services. What can you do? Learn how to use advocacy tactics and strategies to anticipate problems, manage conflict, and avoid crises. Read this article by Pat Howey

Read more articles by Pat Howey in Ask the Advocate.

As a member of the Wrightslaw Speaker's Bureau, Pat Howey  presents special education advocacy training seminars.

 

 

1. IDEA 2004: Highly Qualified Teachers & Research Based Instruction

Did you know that IDEA 2004 includes new language that parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys can use to ensure that children with disabilities are taught by highly qualified teachers and receive research based instruction?

"IDEA 2004 includes new requirements that schools provide 'high-quality, intensive preservice preparation and professional development for all personnel who work with children with disabilities' so all school staff have 'skills and knowledge to improve the academic achievement and functional performance of children with disabilities . . . including the use of scientifically based instructional practices."

To learn about new requirements for personnel training, IEPs, and scientifically based instruction, read IDEA 2004: How Will IEPs Change Under IDEA 2004?

Learn about new requirements in IDEA 2004 - that children with disabilities will be taught by highly qualified teachers and receive research based instruction. This article focuses on new requirements for personnel training, IEPs, and scientifically based instruction.

IDEA 2004: IEP Team Members & IEP Team Attendance - Learn about IEP meetings; when team members may be excused from a meeting, and what parents and the school district must do before a team member may be excused.

IDEA 2004: Requirements for Highly Qualified Special Ed Teachers - Learn about new requirements for special ed teachers; limits of what teachers who are not highly qualified may do; how teachers can demonstrate their competence.

More articles about IDEA 2004.


2. IDEA 2004: Roadmap to IEPs - How did IEPs change under IDEA 2004? What does the law say about developing, reviewing and revising IEPs? Who may be excused from IEP meetings, when, how? When can the child's IEP be changed without an IEP meeting?

What services must be provided when a child transfers to a district in the same state? A different state? What are “multi-year IEPs”?

We answer these questions (and more) in IDEA 2004: What You Need to Know About IEPs & IEP Meetings.

Note: This article is taken from Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 by Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright.


3. Independent Educational Evaluations -Parents and school personnel are often confused about what constitutes an independent educational evaluation (IEE) and how the evaluation is to be used. This article addresses what constitutes an IEE, the value of an IEE, what the law requires of school districts, and who is financially responsible for an IEE. Read this article by Wayne Steedman

Learn more about evaluations, tests and testing.

As a member of the Wrightslaw Speaker's Bureau, Wayne Steedman presents special education advocacy training seminars.


4. Do You Know the Difference Between a 504 Plan and and IEP? Do You Know Which is Appropriate When?

"My daughter has a 504 plan. On the last progress report, she received two F's. When I asked that she receive more help, the principal said she has to fail before the principal can request testing. The school team said they don't know why we want an IEP -- there is nothing we can't get with her 504 plan."
"Bottom Line: The school won't evaluate her and won't consider an IEP. What can we do?"

What are the differences between 504 Plans and IEPs? What strategies can parents use to get a better program? Do children have to fail before schools can evaluate? How do deal with gatekeepers?

For answers to these questions and a Wrightslaw Game Plan to get better services while maintaining a healthy working relationship with the school, read Child with 504 Plan Is Failing, School Won't Evaluate or Consider an IEP.


5. Ask the Advocate: Understanding the Playing Field: Power Struggles, Meetings, Follow Up Letters - Good special education services are individualized, intensive and expensive. Schools often balk at providing intensive services. What can you do? Learn how to use advocacy tactics and strategies to anticipate problems, manage conflict, and avoid crises. Read this article by Pat Howey

Read more articles by Pat Howey in Ask the Advocate.

As a member of the Wrightslaw Speaker's Bureau, Pat Howey  presents special education advocacy training seminars.


6. Wrightslaw Programs: Macomb/St Clair Co MI, and a FREE Bootcamp in Oklahoma City

"Between what I learned in the seminar and the Wrights' books, I understand the 'do's, and don'ts for parents and school personnel. I implemented suggestions from the program with very positive results." - Rebecca, parent from Ohio

To learn when we are coming to your area, please check the Schedule.

Conferences are being booked for 2006 and 2007. To learn how you can bring a Wrightslaw program to your community, please visit Seminars and Training. Program Descriptions


7. Subscription & Contact Info

The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. Newsletter subscribers also receive "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers on Wrightslaw books. Subscribe

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IDEA Reauthorization Newsletter Archives

Contact Info

Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Website: https://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com