The related services that a student receives are based upon his or her unique needs related to disability. So it’s important to know what kinds of related services are available and which would appropriately support the student’s learning.
IEP is an acronym for Individualized Education Program. The primary vehicle for providing FAPE is through an appropriately developed IEP.
Schools are to give parents the Texas Education Agency (TEA) document Notice of Procedural Safeguards Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities at least once a year. It is also to be given when an initial evaluation for special education services is begun or when a parent requests an evaluation, when the first state complaint or due process hearing complaint is made in a school year, and whenever a parent requests a copy. There are common mistakes that many parents make in regards to this document and their rights. […]
The bank, elected official, a credit card company, a boss, a fellow employee, or a local handyman have all asked customers and consumers to “put that in writing, please.” For parents of children with disabilities, there are even more reasons to “put that in writing, please.” They might be providing documentation about their child’s disability to strangers. A request for a meeting with a teacher, a change in their child’s program, an adjustment to their child’s testing schedules — each may require a letter. And not all of us are comfortable writing a letter for these requests — it can be [...]
Recall the Law There is no definition or mention of these terms in IDEA regulations. It is generally accepted that “Accommodations are changes in how a student accesses information and demonstrates learning. Accommodations do not substantially change the instructional level, content, or performance criteria. The changes are made in order to provide a student with equal access to learning and equal opportunity to show what he or she knows and can do. Accommodations can include changes in the following: presentation and/or response format and procedures; instructional strategies; time/scheduling; environment; and equipment.” and “Modifications are changes in what a student is expected to [...]
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.” […]
