5 Key Things to Look for in a Special Education Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer to help with your child’s Special Education needs can make a big difference in getting them the support they deserve. Many families wonder: How should I…
Parents shouldn’t need lawyers to get evidence-based reading instruction in Maryland. Here’s why the fight continues.
Why does it take an education lawyer’s intervention to get evidence-based reading instruction in Maryland? Are you getting pretty sick of Maryland public schools insisting on reading instruction and intervention…
New School Year Advice From Special Education Attorneys and Advocates
As education attorneys, we often hear from parents who are seeking advice at the start of a new school year, which is great, because this is the best time for…
Addressing Behavior Challenges in School: FBAs, BIPs, and the Role of BCBAs
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…
Making IEP Goals Measurable
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…
Parent-friendly IEP Meetings
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…
Decoding the IEP Part 2: Tips for Ensuring Measurable IEP Goals from a Special Education Attorney
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…
Decoding the IEP Part 1: IEP Goals That Address Areas of Need
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…
Dyslexia and Special Education Eligibility
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…
What Is ESY and Why Should My Child Attend?
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…
As a parent of a child with a disability, how much do I need to worry about the dismantling of the Department of Education?
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…
Can School Budget or Staffing Control a Student’s Special Education Services?
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…
Filing an MSDE Complaint: What Parents Need to Know
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…
Special Education Acronyms Made Simple: Understanding Key Terms to Support Your Child
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…
Transgender Name Changes In The School Setting
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,…
IEP SERVICES; What You Must Know: WHO-WHAT-WHERE-WHEN
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…
IEP Meetings in the Summer – Essential Special Education Tips for the Summer IEP Process
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…
Understanding the 504 Plan: Empowering Students for Success
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…
End of Year IEP Meetings
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…
Understanding and Exploring Reading Interventions for Your Child
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…
When Must Your Child Start Kindergarten? Can Parents Delay Kindergarten Start?
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…
Can the School Take Away a Child’s IEP? Handling IEP and Service Removal
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…
Communicating with Your Child’s School on Special Education Matters for Maximum Impact
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…
When Does a Learning Disability Qualify a Student for an IEP or Special Education?
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…
IEP Progress Reporting– What is “Meaningful” Progress?
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…
Student Privacy Matters – Understanding FERPA
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act– FERPA allows access to educational records for families and protects those records from misuse.
The Role of Private Evaluations: What Schools Must Consider
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…
What is a PWN?
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 in an IEP?
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 School Year Off Right
6 Easy Ways to Start the Year Off Right with an IEP– Advice for parents starting a new school year.
Understanding the 504 Plan: Empowering Students for Success
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…
Understanding Home & Hospital Services: Education for Students Outside of the School Building
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…
Back to Basics – What is an IEP?
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…
Are Private Schools Required to Provide Accommodations under Section 504?
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 to Your Child’s School
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…
Unilateral Placement Requirements – Placing Your Child in a Private Specialized or Special Education School
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…
Are We Really Still Having This Conversation? Evidence Based Reading Intervention for Dyslexia
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…
IEP Progress Reporting– What is “Meaningful” Progress?
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…
Keeping Students Safe in School: Redirecting School Police Funding
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
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 – What to Do Right Now
Back to school with an IEP? 8 Things parents need to know and do right now if their child has an IEP.
The difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan
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.
I think my child needs special education. What should I do first?
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 and Returning to School
“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…
School Residency for Special Education and General Education Students
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
COVID School Closures, the IEP process, and Special Education Rights with Education Attorney Nicole Joseph Webinar Recording, October 29, 2020
Webinar — Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 7:30pm — Covid Distance Learning and the IEP process with Special Education Attorney Nicole Joseph (recording posted below)
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
COVID Special Education Questions and Answers
IEPs and Special Education During Distance Learning for learning disabilities autism dyslexia under individual education programs or 504
Parents Can (and should!) Report Distance Learning Special Education Progress
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
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
Special Education and COVID School Closures Recorded Webinar with the Jewish Federation of Howard County (Password: 9n!!#88g) April 28, 2020
Q&A ON SPECIAL EDUCATION DURING COVID-19 CLOSURES
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…
Distance Learning under IEPs for Students with Disabilities or Section 504 Plans
School closures during COVID-19 pandemic and services for students with disabilities.
COVID-19 Legislation: Children’s Rights are at Risk
Congress is considering COVID-19 relief legislation that could put IDEA in jeopardy. Act Now!
Must IEP Goals be mastered at 80%?
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.
IEP SERVICES; WHO-WHAT-WHERE-WHEN
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 at School
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
Special Education Law for Parents and Families Interview of Nicole Joseph by Melissa Corkrum of The Cork Board August 23, 2019.
Summer Camp for Every Kid!
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/
End of Year IEP Meetings
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…
Ready to Read Act – My Appeal to the Maryland General Assembly
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.
You Deserve to Have a Name
Do school staff call you “mom”? You are not their mother!
Dyslexia and Special Education Eligibility
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?
Parents – These Things Will Change the Special Education Game
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,…
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions I get about difficult special education situations.
6 Easy Ways to Start the School Year Off Right
6 Easy Ways to Start the Year Off Right with an IEP– Advice for parents starting a new school year.
Causes of Action Under IDEA, Trial Reporter, Spring 2018
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.
Trial Reporter, Journal of the Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.,Causes of Action Against a School under IDEA, Spring 2018.
New Developments in Endrew F: “Meaningful Progress” at the Supreme Court
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…
When to Hire an Education Lawyer
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…
Dyslexia Advocacy Day in Annapolis
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 to Speak to National Business Institute – 2017
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…
Dyslexia Family Networking Event – Nicole to Speak
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
Nicole Joseph discussing IDEA on WPFW 9/15/17wpfw_arise_IDEA.mp3MP3 Audio File 27.5 MB — Download
Nicole’s work with the Maryland Coalition to Reform School Discipline to end the suspension of 4, 5, and 6 year olds
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
Maryland Bar Journal – Civil Rights Crisis in Our Schools
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
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
Nicole discussing the School to Prison pipeline on WYPR:http://wypr.org/post/discipline-suspensions-and-school-prison-pipeline