Parent FAQs
1. My child is struggling in one or more academic areas. What do I do?
Your first step is to talk to your child's teacher about your concerns. The teacher will be able to tell you if what your child is experiencing is typical of your child's peers in the classroom or if there is a shared concern. Your child's teacher may also refer them to the School Instructional Team (SIT), a group of professionals and you who will discuss the concerns and develop a plan to intervene. It is also your right as a parent to request an IEP meeting at any time.
2. What is an IEP?
IEP stands for Individualized Education Program. This is a legal document that outlines where a student with an identified disability currently functions, what accommodations and supports are necessary for the student to be successful, what the student needs to work on during the year, what special education services need to be provided, and where those services will be provided.
3. How is a student found eligible for special education?
Once a referral is made by the SIT team or parent, the IEP team meets to determine if formal assessments are needed to determine eligibility. If the team determines that assessments are needed with parental consent, the team has sixty days to complete the assessments and meet to review the results. After the results of assessments have been reviewed, the IEP team will determine eligibility based whether the team believes a student has an educational disability, based on all available data. Once a student is found eligible, the IEP team has thirty days to meet again to develop the IEP. After the IEP is developed, services and supports laid out in the IEP will begin immediately after the student's parent/guardian provides signed consent.
4. What can I do to help my child at home?
You can always talk to your child's teachers who can provide you with resources. You can also click the link to the Parent Resources page of this site.
5. How often are IEPs updated?
IEPs are updated at least annually, but if changes are necessary in the interim, you and/or your child's teacher can call an IEP meeting at any time to discuss any changes that might be necessary.
6. I received a notice for an IEP meeting and I have signed and returned the notice. Why am I still getting notices?
We are required to provide three notices for all IEP meetings, two of which must be in writing. Most likely, the signed notice was received and the additional notices are simply to meet the legal requirement.
7. What is the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP?
Both an IEP and a 504 Plan are documents intended to assist students with disabilities. There, however, some key differences:
IEPs are provided for under IDEA while 504 Plans are provided under the 504 Section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
IEPs provide services to students whose disability impacts academic performance that requires direct special education and/or related services. 504 Plans support students who have a disability that impacts a major life function requiring accommodations, but do not require direct services.