Monday, 2 March 2015

What To Know About IEP Parents Rights

By Olivia Cross


If your child is not performing at grade level or having problems with learning in the classroom, you should know that an IEP, individualized education plan, meeting is necessary. It is vital to know about IEP parents rights. This civil rights law is in place to protect all children with special needs. The law requires school districts provide the needed services to ensure children get the education they deserve.

The IDEA or Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, is a law designed for children who are learning disabled. Some school districts are not very forthcoming when it comes to providing resources they are mandated by law to provide. For this reason it is vital that parents know how to advocate for their children.

At the parents request the district is obligated to offer an assessment for free of the child in all areas they are suspected to have learning disabilities. Some of these areas are social and emotional behaviors, health, vision, hearing, fine and gross motor skills, attention deficit problems, meeting potential, and grade level success. Once assessment is complete the school is to call an IEP eligibility meeting to see if the student meets special education services criteria.

Any child identified as eligible becomes part of a protected class under federal and state law. In other words, the district is now mandated to provide the child special education services. However, if the child is found to be ineligible the district does not have to provide any additional services.

Once deemed eligible, the district in required to develop a plan laying out the services, goals, and resources that are needed for the child. When the plan has been developed, the district is required to implement the IEP for the child. This means that the child remains in a general education classroom and is provided push in or pull out services. These services will ensure that the child can catch up and receives the benefits of education.

Unfortunately there are some school districts that knowingly keep students from services by not recognizing them as eligible. The reason for this is for the district to avoid spending money for those who are having problems learning. There are people who are convinced that limited budgets are provided to administrators for these types of services. It is important to note that every IEP team includes a member who is in charge of the budget.

Every student who has learning disabilities is considered protected by the law and must be treated equally. The must be afforded the educational benefits provided every student. This involves receiving supplemental resources to assist them in learning to the same extent their classmates are learning. IDEA is unlike other laws in that parents are required to fight for the rights of their student.

Parents must know the law to ensure the rights of their children. Often parents are told that their child does not meet the eligibility requirements for special education resources. Although school districts are required to provide the services, the politics of the school board overrides the law. It is up to the parents to fight for their rights.




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