Explore expert-written articles on IEPs, 504 Plans, school discipline, accommodations, and special education advocacy. Practical guidance for
parents navigating education law in Maryland.
Many children with disabilities struggle with behavior challenges that can make it difficult for them to succeed in school. When behaviors start getting in the way of learning, it’s important…
When your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the goals in that plan matter. As a parent, you want to know what your child is working on, how progress…
Dear IEP Team, We’ve known each other for a while now and been through a lot together. As my child has progressed from grade to grade, we’ve had many opportunities…
Measurable IEP Goals: How Parents Can Ensure Real Progress Parents of children with IEPs often tell us they feel lost in meetings when the school team talks about “progress.” As…
As a parent, how can you know that the school team has written good IEP goals for your child? How can you confidently participate in the IEP process without feeling…
Questions about dyslexia and special education eligibility are some of the most common questions parents ask us as education attorneys. If you suspect your child has dyslexia, trust your gut! Have your…
If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), you may have heard about Extended School Year (ESY) services. But what exactly is ESY, and is it something your child should…
It can be worrisome to hear about the government’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education. It brings up a lot of “what if” questions for parents of students with…
If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan, you may have heard excuses like “we’re short-staffed,” “that’s not in our budget,” or “I already have too many students…
If you believe your child’s school isn’t following their IEP (Individualized Education Program) or has violated a legal special education procedure, you can file a complaint with the Maryland State Department of…
Navigating the world of special education can feel overwhelming, especially when schools and professionals use so many acronyms. Understanding these terms can help you feel more confident and involved in…
When advocating for the rights of transgender students, it is important to be familiar with the federal laws protecting privacy and supporting individual identity in schools, including name changes. First,…
Your child’s IEP includes special education service hours, but you are sure what exactly those services look like? Can you answer the WHO-WHAT-WHERE-WHEN? This is a common concern. Parents have…
Summer is the perfect time for parents to take steps to plan for the next school year. It is also an opportunity to document concerns from the previous school year…
A 504 plan is one vital tool that can support students who need accommodations (and sometimes more) to access a free and appropriate public education. It is crucial to ensure…
What should happen at an end of year IEP meeting? IEP meetings happen throughout the year– your child’s “annual” IEP date (marked on the top of the IEP) may be…
Making sure children have the evidence-based reading instruction needed to learn to read fluently is key to helping them do well in school, feel good about themselves, and frankly, function…
Parents sometimes feel pressured by school systems to enroll their children in kindergarten even if they feel that their child is not ready for it or if the child is…
What do parents need to know when an IEP team at school suggests removing the IEP? Parents know how important IEP services are for meeting the unique educational needs of…
How should you communicate with your child’s school so that you are more likely to get what you want in special education matters? We’ve previously talked in more detail about…
Many children with learning disabilities, but not all, qualify for special education and related services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disabilities, or SLDs, including…
Do you know whether your child is making meaningful IEP goal progress? Does your IEP team provide you with hard, objective data quarterly explaining how close to their IEP goal your student…
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act– FERPA allows access to educational records for families and protects those records from misuse.
When it comes to updating IEPs, the inclusion of private evaluations can be a contentious issue. By private evaluations, we are talking about evaluations done outside of school that parents…
PWN is an acronym for “Prior Written Notice.” Think of it as meeting minutes from your IEP meeting. But why does it have such a strange name? PWN means that…
What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students with disabilities? How can parents use each part of the IEP to best advocate for what their child needs? Parents and…
6 Easy Ways to Start the Year Off Right with an IEP– Advice for parents starting a new school year.
A 504 plan is one vital tool that can support students who need accommodations (and sometimes more) to access a free and appropriate public education. It is crucial to ensure…
Home & Hospital Services, also known as Home/Hospital or Homebound Services, are designed to provide educational services to students who are unable to attend school due to medical or mental…
As a parent of a child with a disability, it can be overwhelming to navigate the education system and ensure your child is receiving the necessary support and accommodations to…
Private Schools and accommodations under Section 504 is a frequent area of concern for our clients. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which is where the term “504…
WHAT not to say is important, as is WHEN not to say anything to your child’s school. We’ve previously talked about when to get involved in school or special education…
If you are placing your child in a private or special education school that works with students with disabilities for this fall, you need to send a unilateral placement letter…
Why are schools still not using evidence based reading instruction for initial instruction and for intervention? And why are parents still calling me to say their school insists on using…
Do you know whether your child is making meaningful IEP goal progress? Does your IEP team provide you with hard, objective data quarterly explaining how close to their IEP goal…
The Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys Report: “Keeping Students Safe In School: Redirecting School Police Funding to Benefit Students by Supporting Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs” By Alyssa Fieo…
Keeping Students Safe in School: Redirecting School Police Funding to Benefit Students by Supporting Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs by Nicole Joseph with Alyssa Fieo for the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys, September…
Back to school with an IEP? 8 Things parents need to know and do right now if their child has an IEP.
What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan? Both are documents created to support students but IEPs and 504 plans are not the same.
Has observing distance learning made you wonder whether your child might need special education services? Don’t worry, we’re here to help you determine whether your child might be eligible for…
“Compensatory Services” refer to the make-up service a school district is required to provide when they “miss” or do not provide services under a child’s IEP for one reason or…
Where You Live Matters: Resolving Residency Issues for Special Education and other Students in Public Schools – Violating residency policies may cause your child to be removed from school and…
COVID School Closures, the IEP process, and Special Education Rights with Education Attorney Nicole Joseph Webinar Recording, October 29, 2020
Webinar: Covid School Closures, the IEP process, and Your Child’s Special Education Rights with Attorney Nicole Joseph –Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 7:30pm
IEPs and Special Education During Distance Learning for learning disabilities autism dyslexia under individual education programs or 504
Parents should report at home or distance learning special education progress to IEP teams and recording their impressions of their children’s progress on IEP goals during school closures due to…
Systemic racism in school discipline. Suspension, expulsion, and police in schools disproportionately effect students with disabilities and students of color. Students with IEPs have additional protections.
Special Education and COVID School Closures Recorded Webinar with the Jewish Federation of Howard County (Password: 9n!!#88g) April 28, 2020
Special Education During COVID-19 / Coronavirus School Closures Q: Do schools have to continue to serve students with disabilities during school closures for Coronavirus? A: Yes. Q: Are schools required…
School closures during COVID-19 pandemic and services for students with disabilities.
Congress is considering COVID-19 relief legislation that could put IDEA in jeopardy. Act Now!
Q: Is 80% the “correct” or “standard” percentage for IEP Goals? A: No. 80% is often used in IEP goals, but this is NOT a standard.
What specific services does your child receive to address her IEP goals? Is the team unclear on this? A education lawyer or education advocate can help when the IEP team…
When to get involved, when to help your child self-advocate, and when to stay out of school situations.
Special Education Law for Parents and Families Interview of Nicole Joseph by Melissa Corkrum of The Cork Board August 23, 2019.
Summer camp has extraordinary educational and personal growth value for children, “quirky” kids included. Camp Akeela, led by Debbie and Eric Sasson, offers these kids something special. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/citizens-of-the-week-debbie-and-eric-sasson/
Questions to ask in end of year IEP meetings. Determine whether your child is making progress and met or did not meet IEP goals and objectives. Get teacher input. Make…
Letter to senators on the Maryland General Assembly Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on screening children for reading difficulties in the early grades and providing effective reading intervention.
Do school staff call you “mom”? You are not their mother!
Dyslexia and special education eligibility. Common questions about special education eligibility for children with dyslexia. Are children with dyslexia eligible for IEPs and special education?
Whether you are advocating for your own child, or contemplating hiring a special education consultant or attorney to help you, there is one thing that very few parents are doing,…
The most common questions I get about difficult special education situations.
6 Easy Ways to Start the Year Off Right with an IEP– Advice for parents starting a new school year.
legal rights under IDEA causes of action IDEA special education IEP school system responsibilities to children with disabilities children with special education needs IEPs 504s. school discipline.
Trial Reporter, Journal of the Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.,Causes of Action Against a School under IDEA, Spring 2018.
Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017) was a landmark Supreme Court decision for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), and there was another win in…
Children are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). When you feel that your child is not getting the…
This is a great event! Hope to see you there on February 8, 2018. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dyslexia-advocacy-day-in-annapolis-2018-registration-41211389375
Nicole will be speaking about school discipline and the rights of students with disabilities in the school discipline process at the National Business Institute Special Education Law Seminar on December…
Learn about your dyslexia rights throughout the public school special education process including identifying a disability; school system and outside evaluations; developing IEPs; reviewing progress; and options when there is…
Nicole Joseph discussing IDEA on WPFW 9/15/17wpfw_arise_IDEA.mp3MP3 Audio File 27.5 MB — Download
Press release on Nicole’s work with the Maryland Coalition to Reform School Discipline to end the suspension of 4, 5, and 6 year olds:https://disabilityrightsmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/CRSD-hb425hb1287pressfinal.pdf
Why are students with disabilities, both related to behavior and learning disabilities, more likely to be subjected to harsh discipline in school, even when there is a direct connection between…
The Civil Rights Crisis in Schools 09/16Nicole Joseph Maryland Bar JournalCivil Rights in School MD Bar Journal 20Adobe Acrobat Document 374.9 KB — Download
Nicole discussing the School to Prison pipeline on WYPR:http://wypr.org/post/discipline-suspensions-and-school-prison-pipeline
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