In This Issue . . .

• IDEA & NCLB Improve Your Child's Education
  
• What is FAPE?
• IDEA 2004
• Progress in the General Curriculum
• How's Your Special Ed Vocabulary?

Circulation: 72,399
ISSN: 1538-320

Whether you are a parent advocate, teacher advocate, or professional advocate, your job is to ensure a free, appropriate education (FAPE) for your child or student with disabilities.

Advocates need to become experts on the child, the disability, understanding evaluations, understanding the laws, and knowing where to find experts when they need to consult one.

Your cause will not hold water unless you understand FAPE and the rights and responsibilities the statutes guarantee.

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate you'll find Part 2 of our summer refresher course in effective advocacy - Summer School for Advocates. Learn how to use IDEA, NCLB, and state academic standards to get schools to provide the programs and services a child needs. You'll also learn what the law requires and where to find it.

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How to Use IDEA and NCLB to Improve Your Child's Special Education Program

Do you:

• know how IDEA 2004 creates a higher standard for a free, appropriate public education (FAPE)?
• understand how you can use requirements in NCLB to obtain better services for your child?
• know why research-based instruction is so important to your child's special education program?

Read How to Use IDEA & NCLB to Improve Your Child's Special Education Program, by parent attorney Wayne Steedman.

Learn how to use these two statutes to improve educational outcomes and results for children with disabilities.

What is FAPE?

FAPE is the "free, appropriate public education " your child is entitled to under the IDEA.

The school is responsible for providing your child with a free appropriate education (FAPE). Your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes how the school will provide FAPE.

Advocates need to learn about FAPE, how it will be delivered, and strategies you can use if you have a disagreement with a child's IEP team.

IDEA 2004

Bookmark this page, IDEA 2004 at Wrightslaw, before you read any further.

If you are a parent, teacher, or professional advocate of a child with a disability, you represent that child's interests. IDEA 2004 can be a powerful tool to improve educational results for our children.

Find the Law and Regulations, Model IEP and Procedural Safeguard Forms, get answers to your questions in the Commentary ... more.

Your Child's Progress in the General Curriculum

Academic content standards define the "general education curriculum" that Congress said your child should be involved in and make progress in. Learn how to get your state's academic standards and use these standards to develop your child's IEPs.

The IDEA and NCLB say schools must provide children with special education and related services so they can meet the high expectations and goals established for children who are not disabled.

Learn what the law requires ...

Your Child's IEP & Progress in the General Education Curriculum.

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How's Your Special Ed Vocabulary?

When parents or advocates first enter the education process it takes a while to learn the system and the jargon.

You may want to review some special education legal and assessment terms, then check your special ed vocabulary with the Vocabulary Quiz.

Take the Quiz

You'll find the link to submit your answers and a link to the Wrightslaw Glossary of Special Education and Legal Terms and the Glossary of Assessment Terms.

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