Saturday, February 21, 2015

Learn Your 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 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, IDEA, is a law written to protect learning disables children. There are some districts that are not eager to provide the resources they are required to provide. This is why it is important for parent to understand how they need to advocate for their students educational rights.

Your school district is required to provide a free assessment of your child in every area they are suspected to be learning disabled. Some of the areas include grade level success, meeting potential, and attention deficit problems, fine and gross motor skills, hearing, vision, health, and social and emotional behaviors. After assessment, the school must hold an IEP eligibility meeting to determine if the child meets the criteria for special education services.

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.

Each child with a learning disability is considered part of a protected class. These students are to enjoy their right to equal education benefits. These rights include receiving supplemental resources that allows them to learn as much as the other students in their classroom. Unlike other laws, IDEA requires the parents to enforce their childs rights.

It is vital that parents know their rights I order to ensure the rights of the student are protected. Many parents are informed that their student is not eligible for these resources. Even though every district is required by law to provide resources and services, school board politics often overrides this important law.




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