| | to evaluate the child. The parent, teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, or principal can refer the child if there is a suspected problem. The evaluation(s) are conducted by the school district at no charge to the parent(s). Children need specialized services or placement for success in school depending in part on learning difficulties, behavioral and emotional difficulties, medical disorders and school programs, handicaps, and related issues. Also, see "Dealing with the School District: Do You Know Your Rights?" section on this site for additional information. If you prefer and/or need input from other professionals or entities:
 | | Children’s Hospitals are typically an excellent evaluation source. Don’t get worried – it doesn’t | | | require a hospital stay.
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 | | Screen for potential early development problems with this checklist.
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 | | Keeping good records about your child is vital. And don't forget to send correspondence via | | | Certified Mail when dealing with school districts or any other entity for that matter if you will need proof it was received. I've been known to e-mail, then send a fax to alert the recipient to check their e-mail, and also send the document by certified mail. Why? It speeds up communication and I'm creating a paper trail to circumvent the response, "It must have gotten lost in the mail -- we never received it."
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~~Dealing With the School District: Do You Know Your Rights?~~
There are many truly dedicated teachers, principals, school counselors and other school district representatives and officials -- I know, I've met some of them. But there are some that have been misinformed, haven't been properly trained to recognize problems, and/or may be under pressure from "management" to look the other way when they suspect a child needs to be referred for evaluation. When your child's not getting the help s/he needs in school, what's a parent to do? Educate yourself, make a plan, then implement it.
In my opinion, there are several reasons children do not receive the attention at school to which they are entitled -- some of which are listed above. Unfortunately, many times it is solely a question of school district budget, i. e., money. Somebody's child will be sacrificed. Will it be yours?
 | | Keep in mind when reading this website (ADHD) or any other website pertinent to a specific | | | disability or disorder (learning disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, pervasive development disorder, etc.), the law applies equally.
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 | | One purpose of IDEA is "to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a [FAPE] | | | that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living." 20 U.S.C. 1400(d)(1) (A). States receiving federal funds under the IDEA are to provide a FAPE "to all children with disabilities residing in the State between the ages of 3 and 21." 1412(a)(1)(A).[emphasis added]
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 | | An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is not a cookie-cutter document. It is not the action of | | | transferring a student from one pre-designed education curriculum to another. An "appropriate" IEP has been defined by the United States Supreme Court as one that is "individualized," "tailored," "personalized," and "specially designed" to meet the "unique needs" of the individual child who is the subject of the educational plan and at no cost to the parent.
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 | | Public schools can not require students to take medication. Specifically, "...school personnel cannot | | | require parents to obtain a prescription for medication for a child as a condition of attending school, receiving an evaluation to determine if a child is eligible for special education services, or receiving special education and related services...." See Prohibition on Mandatory Medication (§ 300.174)
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 | | Click here to read about this outrage: School Board Attorneys Plot to Destroy Parent Advocacy.
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 | | Do some school districts retaliate against the parents and/or child for pursuing legal rights? | | | Absolutely. Click here to read about it.
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 | | Your state has laws governing special education also. Click here to locate your state education | | | agency.
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 | | Use Section 504 even if your child has an IEP? Click here for guidance.
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 | | If you don't read anything else read "Keep a Journal." It doesn't have to be fancy -- a three ring | | | binder with loose-leaf paper will work.
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 | | Can't get started writing that letter to the school district requesting a Full and Initial Evaluation? | | | Click here for a sample.
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 | | Time-Line for all school notices in Texas. Every state has them.
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 | | Every teacher that comes into contact with an IEP student should have the proper training. More | | | specifically, IDEA, Section 300.323(d) requires that each regular teacher, special education teacher, related services provider, and any other service provider who is responsible for the implementation of a child’s IEP, is informed of his or her specific responsibilities related to implementing the child’s IEP and the specific accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided for the child in accordance with the child’s IEP.
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 | | The definition of highly qualified special education teachers and highly qualified teachers can be | | | found in the IDEA 2004 Federal Registry.
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 | | State education laws for disability students aka special populations, must adhere to Federal IDEA | | | regulations in order to receive federal funding. The Federal regulations set the minimum requirements. One example is Texas' side-by-side Special Education Rules and Regulations.
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 | | You've followed all the protocol, all the procedures and the school district continues to ignore your | | | child's needs? Get leads on finding an advocate or attorney at COPAA,
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 | | Most schools and school districts are on-line. Get the e-mail address for the teacher, principal, or | | | special education coordinator to speed up the communication process.
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 | | There are a lot of sophisticated definitions for Compensatory Education. However, the long and | | | short of it is that school districts are responsible for teaching students with disabilities. When they don't, they are obligated to provide additional education via "compensation." There are various ways a school district can provide compensatory education depending on the circumstances. One example could be the pull-out classes the school district put your son or daughter in after s/he failed the state accountability testing. Though a rarity because it is extreme, another example is cited in Kevin T. v. Elmhurst Comm. School District No. 205.
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~~Teachers and School Counselors -- Don't Let the School District "Lead You Down the Garden Path"~~
 | | "You never can tell what type of impact you may make on another’s life by your actions or lack | | | thereof. Consider this fact in your venture through life. Please think before you act. Things are not always as they appear to be."
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- And for all you dedicated educators -- bless you, you do make a difference!
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~~The Reality of ADHD~~
Maybe you’re an expert on ADD/ADHD and you have all the symptoms and terminology down pat. But do |