In This Issue ...

• Failing to Include a Parent at IEP Meetings Violates IDEA

• Parents are Not Members of the IEP Team - Say What?!
  

• Parents are Equal Partners with School Personnel


• Homework Checklist

Circulation: 95,969
ISSN: 1538-320
June 17, 2014

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Summer School 2014
Parent Rights & Responsibilities in the IEP Process

As your child’s parent, you are a key member of the IEP team. You are not a spectator. You are an active participant.

IDEA gives you the power to make educational decisions for your child. Do not be afraid to use your power. Use it wisely. Don’t be afraid to take charge.

In this six part self-study series for Summer School 2014 you will learn to see your role in the IEP process as equally important as the educational professionals. You will learn:

• about your active parent role as a member of your child’s IEP team
• how to be an equal participant in IEP meetings
• some simple but effective tools for taking and maintaining control
• how to ask questions and make suggestions at IEP team meetings
• how to be prepared to both collaborate and negotiate with the IEP team

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate you'll find Part 1: Parent Input at IEP Meetings.

Please don't hesitate to forward this series to other friends, families, or colleagues.

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Failing to Include a Parent at the IEP Meeting Violates IDEA

• Has your school held an IEP meeting when you were not able to attend?
• If there are scheduling conflicts for an IEP meeting, whose attendance has priority?

In Doug C. v. Hawaii, the Court said failing to include the parent at the IEP meeting violated the procedural requirement of IDEA and invalidated the IEP. Read Pete's analysis of Doug C. v. Hawaii.

Watch the video discussion of Doug C. Download and print the Decision.

Parents Are Not Members of the IEP Team … Say What!?

As the parent of a child with special educational needs, you represent your child’s interests. You are an essential part of the IEP process. Parents are and always have been members of the IEP team.

In the required members of the IEP team, IDEA 2004, Section 1414(d), parents are listed first.

Learn the Law and Regulations about Parental Role and Consent

Chapter 3, Wrightslaw: All About IEPs.

Parents are Equal Partners with School Personnel in Decision Making

Appendix A to the IDEA regulations says:

"Parents are equal partners with school personnel in making these decisions, and the IEP team must consider the parents’ concerns and the information that they provide regarding their child in developing, reviewing, and revising IEPs."

Summer School Session 1: Homework Checklist

  1. Make sure you have a copy of IDEA, federal special education regulations, commentary to the regulations, your state regulations.

  2. Review the law about IEPs in Section 1414(d) of your law book. Read about required members of the IEP team listed in the Federal Regulations on pages 246-248 in your law book.

  3. Read Chapter 3 about Parental Participation in Wrightslaw: All About IEPs.

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