Wrightslaw

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

Highlights: IDEA 2004 - topics briefs on hot issues; what you need to know about IDEA 2004; special sale on Wrightslaw books for $3.95; From Emotions to Advocacy: 1st edition v. 2nd edition; "The Wright Stuff - Parents Earn Legalese Stripes at Wrightslaw Boot Camp; Wrightslaw Training in Hartford, CT (Oct 14-15).

Subscribers as of September 30, 2005: 46,967

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Download this issue. All newsletters published in 2005

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1. Hot Topics! IDEA 2004 Topics Briefs

IDEA 2004 went into effect on July 1, 2005. The regulations to implement IDEA 2004 are not expected for several months. In the absence of regulations, parents, educators and administrators have questions about what the law requires.

To help answer these questions, Troy R. Justesen, acting director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced that the Department of Education published 19 topics briefs on "high-interest areas of IDEA 2004."

You can download these topics briefs at OSEP Publishes Topics Briefs on "High Interest Areas. Learn about Evaluations and Reevaluations, IEPs and IEP meetings, Early Intervention, Highly Qualified Teachers, Discipline, Early Intervening Services, Mediation, Resolution Sessions, Due Process Hearings, and other important (and confusing) issues.

You can also find answers to your question at IDEA 2004 at Wrightslaw.

Law & Regulations	IDEA 2004 News
Guidance from Dept of Education	Publications & Reports
Articles about IDEA 2004	IDEA 97

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2. What You Need to Know About IDEA 2004

If you are the parent of a child with a disability, you represent your child's interests. You need to be informed about changes in IDEA 2004 that may affect your child. If you are a teacher or special education service provider, the reauthorized law will affect you and your job. These articles will help you understand IDEA 2004 and how it will affect you.

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.

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3. Special Sale! Wrightslaw Books for $3.95

We published our first book, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law in 1999. When we took the book off the market, it went through 12 printings with 60,000+ books sold.

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA) was published in 2001. We took FETA off the market earlier this year after 9 printings and 45,000+ books sold.

Going, Going, Gone - for $3.95!

A few copies of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 1st edition, and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 1st edition have been returned by bookstores and wholesalers. These books retailed for $29.95. The publisher has reduced the price to $3.95! Wrightslaw books for $3.95.

Supplies are limited. To take advantage of this special offer, act now. Wrightslaw books for $3.95.

Note: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 1st edition is IDEA 97, not IDEA 2004. The book also includes a casebook of U.S. Supreme Court cases, IDEA 97 regulations, Section 504, and FERPA and is a useful reference to the IDEA 97 statute.

You may also want to download IDEA 2004: Overview, Explanation and Comparison of IDEA 2004 & IDEA 97 by Pete Wright which describes substantive changes to the five key statutes of IDEA 2004.

IDEA 2004 went into effect on July 1 and is available in Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004.

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4. Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - 1st Edition v. 2nd Edition

We spent the summer revising Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy. The second edition (FETA-2) is at the printer now. We will announce a special prepublication offer on Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA-2) within a few days so watch your email box.

How is the second edition of Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA-2) different from the first?

In the second edition, the eight chapters about the Individuals with Disabilities Act were completely revised to reflect changes in IDEA 2004.

FETA-2 includes a new chapter about No Child Left Behind and how you can use NCLB in developing your child's IEP.

The chapters about Tests and Measurements were revised to include new information about tests commonly used to assess children - intellectual or cognitive tests including the WISC-IV, comprehensive educational achievement tests, reading tests, speech and language tests, and more.

The chapter about SMART IEPs was revised to include new legal requirements for IEPs. You will learn how to use the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance as baseline data in the IEP, and how to write measurable academic and functional goals. The chapter walks you through the process of writing IEPs that are specific, measurable, use action words, are realistic, and time-limited.

In both editions of Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, you learn how to use tactics and strategies to prevent problems or resolve problems early. Both editions include chapters about the parent's role, obstacles to getting quality services, strategies to resolve parent-school conflict, letter writing, and school meetings. Both editions include forms, worksheets, and sample letters that you can adopt to your circumstances.

Information about the first edition. Information about FETA-2 will be available soon.