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.

If a child is found to be eligible, the school district I required to provide a plan that provides resources, goals, and services. When a plan has been laid out the district must implement an IEP for the particular student. What this means is the student will remain in the general education classroom and he or she receives pushed in or pulled out special education services. The child is ensured of receiving benefits of an education with these services.

There are some districts that deliberately prevent students from being recognized as eligible for special education services. This is because school districts do not want to spend money on students who have trouble learning. Some people believe that school boards deliberately provide a restricted budget to school administrators for special education services. In every IEP meeting there is a member responsible for 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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