Difficult Special Education School Districts Santa Clara
Parents have mixed feelings when preparing for their child’s IEP. They hope that their child will get what s/he needs. Parents are concerned with maintaining good working relationships with their child’s school staff. Many are anxious that their child may not get needed help. Susie and Leigh occasionally attend IEPs where the district has assessed the child is all suspected areas of need. The district then works collaboratively with the parent and the rest of the IEP team to address those needs.
Unfortunately, many Santa Clara Valley Special Education districts do not operate this way. Services are squeezed between tight budgets, staffing challenges, and an attitude of “this is how we do it here.” Sometimes IEP meetings leave parents upset and angry. The District did not listen to parent concerns during the IEP meeting. District did not offer adequate or appropriate services. District refuses to include student with typically developing peers.Staff proposes to include the student without appropriate supports.
What now?
Buy and read From Emotions to Advocacy. Attend a Parents Helping Parents IEP training, or a Wrightslaw IEP training,
Difficult Special Education School Districts Santa Clara
Record every IEP meeting. (Let district know at least 24 hours in advance.)
Write down everything. Get all District offers in writing. Conduct correspondence with the District in writing. In Special Education, if it isn’t written down, it never happened.
Save all copies of emails.
Document every key conversation about your child. If someone catches you via phone or in person, write down the conversation as soon as possible. If the conversation is about an area of concern, send a copy of your notes to the district to confirm your understanding. This also makes the conversation part of your child’s record.
Call an advocate for a free consult.
Talk to an advocate. Learn your rights.
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As parents, we understand, As advocates, we can help.
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