Table Of Content“The essential guide for any parent preparing for an
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How to Advocate for
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• Arrange appropriate evaluations and assessments
• Determine your child’s specific goals and educational needs
• Win disputes with school districts
Attorney Lawrence M. Siegel
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LOS ANGELES TIMES
10th Edition
The Complete IEP Guide
How to Advocate for Your
Special Ed Child
Attorney Lawrence M. Siegel
LAW for ALL
Tenth Edition JULY 2020
Editor BETH LAURENCE
Production SUSAN PUTNEY
Proofreading IRENE BARNARD
Index SONGBIRD INDEXING SERVICES
Printing BANG PRINTING
Names: Siegel, Lawrence M., 1946- author. | Nolo (Firm)
Title: The complete IEP guide : how to advocate for your special ed child /
Attorney Lawrence M. Siegel.
Other titles: Complete Individualized Education Program guide
Description: Tenth Edition. | Berkeley : NOLO, 2020. | Ninth edition
published 2017.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020002127 (print) | LCCN 2020002128 (ebook) | ISBN
9781413327427 (Paperback) | ISBN 9781413327434 (eBook)
Subjects: LCSH: Individualized education programs--Law and
legislation--United States--Popular works. | Dispute resolution
(Law)--United States--Popular works. | Special education--Parent
participation--United States--Popular works.
Classification: LCC KF4209.3 .S57 2020 (print) | LCC KF4209.3 (ebook) |
DDC 371.90973--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020002127
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020002128
This book covers only United States law, unless it specifically states otherwise.
Copyright © 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017,
and 2020 by Lawrence M. Siegel. All rights reserved. The NOLO trademark is registered
in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Printed in the U.S.A.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without
prior written permission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in
this product when reproduced for personal use. For information on bulk purchases or corporate
premium sales, please contact the Special Sales Department. Call 800-955-4775 or write to
Nolo, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, California 94710.
Please note
We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of
your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a
knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always
point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea—consult an attorney licensed to
practice in your state.
Dedication
To the memory of my sweet daughter Catie; I see your beautiful smile and
remember your wonderful and kind heart, every day of my life.
To my parents.
To my wife Gail, for that first day on the Wheeler steps, and ever since, her
joyous smile, and
To my daughter Elisabeth, she inspires me with her energy and talent.
Acknowledgments
My appreciation to the entire Nolo staff, which, to a person, has always been
professional and friendly and never seemed to feel those two concepts were
incompatible.
Special thanks to Marcia Stewart for her superb editing, her patience as we
worked through and wrote about the complexities of the IEP process, and her
clear goal of making the IEP process friendly and useful for families of children
with disabilities.
Thanks to Beth Laurence for her insight, patience, and devotion to children in
special education.
Thanks also to my colleagues and friends on the California Advisory Commission
on Special Education.
About the Author
Lawrence Siegel has been a special education attorney and advocate since 1979,
and has represented children with disabilities extensively in IEPs, due process,
complaints, legal action, and before legislative and policy bodies. Mr. Siegel
has consulted with parent groups throughout the U.S. and has worked directly
with special education experts in Japan. As a Fulbright specialist, he worked in
Sweden at the University of Stockholm. He has taught special education law
at Hastings College of the Law, was on the California Advisory Commission
on Special Education for eight years, and has written and helped enact special
education law in a number of states. He continues to travel the country giving
workshops to families with children with disabilities. Mr. Siegel was given
an endowed chair at Gallaudet University (2004–2005) in recognition of his
work for children with disabilities and is also the author of Least Restrictive
Environment: The Paradox of Inclusion (LRP Publications, 1994), The Human
Right to Language (Gallaudet Press, 2008), and Nolo’s IEP Guide: Learning
Disabilities.
Table of Contents
Your Legal Companion for IEPs ..........................................................................................1
1 Introduction to Special Education ..................................................................................3
What Is Special Education? .........................................................................................................4
What Is an IEP? ...................................................................................................................................5
Being Your Child’s Advocate .....................................................................................................7
Getting Help From Others ......................................................................................................10
2 Overview of Special Education Law and the IEP................................................13
The IDEA and State Special Education Laws ................................................................15
What the IDEA Requires ...........................................................................................................16
Individualized Education Program .....................................................................................46
Working With Your School District .................................................................................60
Some Overriding IEP Principles ............................................................................................64
3 Getting Started: Tips for All Parents...........................................................................69
First Steps ...........................................................................................................................................71
Obtain Your Child’s School Records ..................................................................................76
Harassment .......................................................................................................................................83
4 Getting Organized ....................................................................................................................87
Start an IEP Binder ........................................................................................................................88
The Yearly IEP Cycle .....................................................................................................................96
Sample Year in the Life of Your Child’s IEP ....................................................................98
Keep a Monthly Calendar ....................................................................................................101
Track Your Child’s Progress ..................................................................................................101
5 Developing Your Child’s IEP Blueprint ...................................................................105
Begin at the End: Define Your Child’s Needs ............................................................107
Preparing an IEP Blueprint ....................................................................................................107
Other Sources of Information for the Blueprint ......................................................116
What’s Next? ...................................................................................................................................116
6 Evaluations ....................................................................................................................................117
When Evaluations Are Done ................................................................................................120
Evaluation Components ........................................................................................................123
Evaluation Plans ...........................................................................................................................123
Meet With the Evaluator ........................................................................................................132
Reviewing the Report ...............................................................................................................136
Reevaluations .................................................................................................................................137
Final Evaluations ..........................................................................................................................138
7 Who Is Eligible for Special Education? .....................................................................139
Eligibility Requirements ...........................................................................................................141
Preparing for the IEP Eligibility Meeting ......................................................................150
Attending the Eligibility Meeting ......................................................................................152
Joint IEP Eligibility/Program Meeting .............................................................................154
If Your Child Is Not Found Eligible for Special Education ..................................155
8 Exploring Your Options and Making Your Case ..............................................159
Review the School District’s Information .....................................................................161
Keep Tabs on Your Child’s Progress ................................................................................163
Explore Available School Programs.................................................................................166
Find Out About Related Services ......................................................................................174
Compare Your Blueprint With the Existing Programs and Services ...........174
Generate Additional Supporting Information ..........................................................175
Independent Evaluations .......................................................................................................177
What If the District Hasn’t Done an Evaluation? ....................................................182
Requesting that the District Pay for an Evaluation ...............................................183
9 Writing Goals ..............................................................................................................................185
Skill Areas Covered by Goals ..............................................................................................187
Developing Goals ........................................................................................................................188
When to Draft Goals .................................................................................................................191
Writing Effective Goals.............................................................................................................191
10 Preparing for the IEP Meeting .......................................................................................197
Schedule the IEP Meeting .....................................................................................................198
The IEP Meeting Agenda .......................................................................................................202
Organize Your Materials ........................................................................................................202
Draft Your Child’s IEP Program .........................................................................................208
Establish Who Will Attend the IEP Meeting .............................................................212
Final Preparation .........................................................................................................................225
11 Attending the IEP Meeting ..............................................................................................229
Getting Started ............................................................................................................................231
Simple Rules for a Successful IEP Meeting ..................................................................234
Become Familiar With Your School’s IEP Form ........................................................242
Writing the IEP Plan ..................................................................................................................244
Signing the IEP Document ....................................................................................................259
Parent Addendum Page .........................................................................................................262
