Protecting Your Child’s Rights Now that School is Back in Session

Now that school is back in session in Nashville and the initial excitement and confusion are behind us, students are expected to get back to work: that means studying for tests, completing homework and engaging in classroom assignments. But if your child is a special needs child, these typical activities may prove more challenging than for many other students, and your child may need additional support and learning tools in order to get through assignments.

As a parent, you can request that the school put together a team of professionals to look into the reasons why your child might be struggling. The team’s findings coupled with any medical, psychological, and related documentation you might have could lead to an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. The IEP guides educators at the school for the remainder of the school year to ensure that she or he obtains in order to learn.

What does an IEP outline?

The federal government, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has laid out what your child’s IEP should do. Among other things, it will contain:

• An assessment of the student’s current level of performance
• The school’s and teachers’ annual educational goals for that student in particular
• Measures put in place for assessing how those goals will be met by educators and administrators
• Which modifications will be made
• Accommodations for the student for standardized tests if such accommodations are necessary
• Plans for the student’s transition between his or her current school and the next school, such as the transition between middle school and high school

The IEP for graduating high school students may also include plans for helping them transition into everyday life away from school.

If you believe that your child may need extra accommodations in order to obtain a free and appropriate education, now is the time to develop an IEP. The sooner you, your child’s teachers and the administration can identify the issues, the sooner everyone can work together to create an environment conducive to learning for your child.

Remember, however, that the school will often try to fit your child and his or her needs in existing programs that the school offers. They may not be appropriate for your child. If the school system and you disagree about what the school should provide as per the law, you are entitled to a hearing before a neutral officer who is not affiliated with the school.

Special education law can be complex, and as a parent, you might need another advocate in your corner. The Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC can help you protect your child. Please contact us to schedule a meeting with a dedicated Nashville education lawyer today.