If your school is not giving your child their IEP services, it can feel overwhelming. It is also clearly illegal. Services are a vital part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), designed to ensure students with disabilities receive the specialized support they need. Missing services can impact academic progress, social development, and your child’s overall success in school.
What Are Pull-Out IEP Services?
Pull-out instruction happens when a student leaves the general education classroom to receive specialized support. If your school is not giving your child their pull-out IEP services, your child may miss out on:
- Special education support like reading or math intervention
- Speech, occupational, or physical therapy
- Behavioral or social skills instruction
These services must be delivered exactly as written in the IEP or 504 Plan.
Services may also be delivered inside general education, and these services are just as important, and required to be provided as per the IEP, just like pull out services.
How to Tell If Your Child Is Missing Services
Parents can take several steps to confirm whether services are being provided:
- Talk to your child about who they meet with, where they go, and what they do during sessions where they are taken out of the general education environment, or when an adult besides their main teacher comes to work with them (like a speech pathologist or counselor).
- Review the IEP or 504 Plan to see how often services should occur and for how long.
- Request service logs from the school documenting when services took place.
- Communicate with teachers or case managers for details on where and how instruction is delivered.
- Check schedules and progress reports for consistency with the plan.
If your child’s answers don’t align with school records or you see gaps in documentation, it could mean the school is not providing services.
What to Do If the School Is Not Giving My Child Their Pull-Out IEP Services
When you confirm or strongly suspect your child isn’t receiving their required services:
- Document your concerns with emails, meeting notes, and service records.
- Request an IEP or 504 meeting to address the issue formally.
- Ask for compensatory services to make up for missed time.
- Escalate if needed by filing a complaint, requesting mediation, or seeking legal help.
Failing to provide IEP services is a violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and denies your child their right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Advocate and Hold the School Accountable
If your school is not giving your child their pull-out IEP services, you have the right to demand action. Schools are legally obligated to follow the IEP or 504 Plan, and parents play a critical role in ensuring accountability. By asking the right questions, reviewing documentation, and keeping clear records, you can help secure the services your child deserves.
Speak with a Special Education Lawyer in Maryland
Is your school not giving your child their pull-out IEP services? You don’t have to fight this battle alone. The Law Offices of Joseph & Rabb can help. Our experienced Special Education Lawyers in Maryland are dedicated to protecting students’ rights and holding schools accountable.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can advocate for your child so they receive the services and support they are entitled to.
This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.