A section 504 meeting is a wonderful thing which can help a student to bridge disability gaps. However, at 504 meetings, sometimes there’s big talk on what accommodations will be included, but they don’t appear in the 504 plan. To prevent a school from shrugging and saying “sorry we don’t
Charter schools are public schools, and can be wonderful alternatives to the typical public school. ANY California student can apply to attend any California charter, even if the school is outside their school district. Charters cannot discriminate in who they accept. So they can’t say, “no disabled students can come
Non-public schools (aka NPS’s) are somewhat controversial, as they are schools separate from “regular” mainstream schools, for special needs students. Most students never enter an NPS. However, there are times when an NPS may be appropriate. When is a super-restrictive NPS school a good idea? Aren’t NPS’s Bad for Students?
When is it time for a nonpublic school (NPS) for a special education student? How does a parent get an NPS placement? What is a Non-Public School (NPS)? A nonpublic school (NPS) is typically a government funded specialized school for students who require more interventions and supports than the traditional
Terminology in schools can be very confusing. Schools always presume parents know what terms like “504” and “Section 504” mean, when most don’t. Why would we? What is the definition of “504” and what is “Section 504?” Why is knowing about Section 504 critical? Let’s clear it up. The Rehabilitation
Parents often wonder who has to attend a student IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. Can a parent make a certain teacher, psychologist, or other school staff member attend an IEP meeting? Maybe, but generally, not so much. Okay, so how can parents get certain school staff to a student’s IEP?
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Special education can be very intimidating to all types of parents. This scariness can cause parents to be quiet at IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings, or to just agree with whatever the IEP team proposes. However, parents need to speak
Parents of a public school student on a 504 Plan (accommodations plan for a qualified disabled student) sometimes find themselves facing a 504 manifestation meeting. This meeting can arrive with little notice and usually happens when larger student discipline is looming (e.g. school expulsion). Just what is going on!? What
Bullying seems to be everywhere in schools. What if the bullied student or the bully are special needs students and it is impacting their education? Can the IEP (Individualized Education Program) team get involved to support the student? Yes! First, Report Bullying If student bullying is occurring, parents can report
Special education can be challenging for a parent enmeshed in the special education system. One of the first things to know are the timelines for certain actions. For example, what is the timeline for holding an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting? What about the timeline for an assessment to be
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