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Date: October 25, 2006
Issue: 368
ISSN: 1538-3202

In this Issue


1. Help! Schools Arresting Kids for Minor Behaviors

2. IDEA 2004 - IEPs for Children with Behavior Problems

3. School's Obligations to Kids with Emotional Problems

4. Wrightslaw Programs in IL, OK; Boot Camps in FL & MD
5. Subscribe & Contact Info

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With school in full swing, readers are sending more questions than we can answer. This issue includes answers to your burning questions about schools having kids arrested, IEPs for kids with behavior problems, and obligations of schools to kids with emotional problems.

Subscribers on October 25, 2006: 46,045

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

Do you know others who want to learn how to advocate for a child with a disability? Please forward this issue or the subscription page so they can learn about special education law and advocacy too. Thanks!

Download this issue: https://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/06/nl.1025.htm

1. Help! Schools Arresting Kids for Minor Behaviors

"Schools are having children with disabilities arrested for behaviors related to their disabilities. An outburst of any kind - a child who throws down a pencil during testing, or a child with autism who pushes another child who is pushing and shoving - is met with handcuffs and juvenile detention."

"Once the child is arrested, the school claims the situation is out of their hands - there is nothing they can do. What can we do to stop this practice?"

In What to Do When Schools Have Children Arrested for School-Related Behaviors, Pete Wright offers strategies to turn this negative experience into a positive outcome for the child.

Pete writes, "When a child with a disability is arrested for school-related behavior, this is an excellent opportunity to use the power of the juvenile court to force the school district to implement a good plan for the child - and have the Court monitor the school's progress." Read article

Learn more children with behavior problems. Learn more about juvenile justice and special education.

2. IDEA 2004: What You Need to Know About IEPs for Children with Behavior Problems

"The school had my child with autism arrested. The charges were dismissed but I am afraid this will happen again. What can I do?"

In IDEA 2004: What You Need to Know About IEPs for Children with Behavior Problems, Pat Howey answers this parent's questions and offers strategies to use in dealing with this difficult situation.

As Pat explains, IDEA 2004 and the special education regulations include specific requirements for IEPs of children whose behavior impedes their learning or the learning of others -- including the training of teachers to use positive behavioral interventions and strategies.

More Ask the Advocate articles by Pat Howey. More What You Need to Know About IDEA 2004 articles.

Related Information

Preparing for IEP Meetings: Providing Information & Sharing Concerns by Pat Howey

10 Tips: How to Use IDEA 2004 to Improve Your Child's Special Education Program by Wayne Steedman, Esq.

Tip: If you want to learn to be a more effective advocate for a child with a disability, please join Pat Howey and Wayne Steedman for a Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy program in Champaign, IL on Saturday, October 28, 2006.

Pat and Wayne are also presenting a two-day Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Boot Camp in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on November 4-5, 2006.

3. Teacher Asks "What Are School's Obligations to Child with Emotional & Behavior Problems? "

"A student is a 15-year-old tenth grader who is diagnosed as 'seriously emotionally disturbed.' He is functioning on a 2nd grade level in academics. His placement is in a self-contained classroom, with a few hours in general education."

"What obligations do we have? Must we continue to provide special education services to him in this setting if we believe he is a danger to himself or others? What about the safety of the other students, teachers, and administrators?"

Pete answers these questions with a few of his own - and offers a plan to help the child - in What Are the School's Obligations to Children with Emotional and Behavior Problems?

Learn more about children with emotional and behavior problems.

4. Special Ed Law & Advocacy Programs in IL & OK- Boot Camps in FL & MD

Wrightslaw offers a variety of special education law and advocacy programs taught by nationally-known experts in the field.

The Fall 2006 schedule includes these programs:
October 28: Champaign, IL - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Wayne Steedman and Pat Howey, sponsored by the C-U Autism Network.  Download Registration Form.

December 5: Oklahoma City, OK - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training sponsored by Oklahoma Disability Law Center. Speakers: Pete and Pam Wright.

* Boot Camps *

November 4-5: Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Special Education Law & Advocacy Bootcamp by Wayne Steedman and Pat Howey, sponsored by the Unicorn Children's Foundation.  Download Flyer & Registration Form

November 10-11: Columbia, MD - Special Education Law & Advocacy Boot Camp by Pete and Pam Wright, sponsored by the Howard County Autism Society.  Download Flyer & Registration Form

2006-2007 Schedule l Program Descriptions l Online Training

We are now scheduling programs for 2007 and 2008. If you are interested in bringing a Wrightslaw program to your community, please read the Conference Information.

5. 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


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