Finding Your Child The Right Education

By Leslie Petruk. Posted on Aug 26th 2012.

What you need to know about the law and your rights when seeking special education for your child.

Ultimately, if you are unable to come to an agreement in the IEP meeting, you can request mediation, additional testing by an independent evaluator or due process. You can also file a complaint with the state education agency and the Office of Civil Rights.

Many parents feel intimidated by this process and if the school is not cooperative tend to easily back down. That is what the school hopes for if they are not willing to provide the necessary support for your child. It is up to you to hold them accountable and the law will support you if you do it correctly. Each state also has a federally funded agency that provides education and advocacy for parents. If you need additional information or support, look up your local state agency and contact them.

Remember that information is power; as a parent, you must know the laws and what your rights are. A great resource for this is www.wrightslaw.com. This website is packed full of information that can assist you through the process.

Ultimately, as a result of the battle our family went through, I assisted in the writing and advocacy of legislation in the state of NC that allows school choice for special needs children. This piece of legislation was started in 2006 and was finally signed into law the summer of 2011. House Bill 344 provides options for families who have a child with special needs. If you are interested in learning more or to see if such legislation exists in your state, you can go to the The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. In the state of NC, the Freidman Foundation, along with Parents for Educational Freedom, worked tirelessly until this legislation passed. They continue to advocate for a free and appropriate public education for every child.

Find an expert!

Article contributed by

View profile

Advanced Member

Leslie Petruk

Location: Charlotte, NC

Credentials: BCC, LPC, MA, NCC

Website: http://www.steppingstonesnc.com

What The Country Can Learn From the Connecticut School Shooting

By Leslie Petruk

Our nation as a whole tends to stigmatize and minimize the reality and the extent of the impact of mental health issues on our country. Mental health is always on the top of the list when budgets are slashed on local, state, and national levels. Insurance companies are making excessive profits at the expense of families ability to afford ... Read more

How to Talk to Your Child About the Newtown School Shooting

By Leslie Petruk

It's unthinkable that when you send your child off to school you would ever receieve a call such as those parents in Newtown, CT did on December 14th. It's a parents worst nighmare. My heart aches for those families, as I know everyone's does. As a parent or one who works with children, you may face difficult questions. It is ... Read more

Guilt Free Parenting: 8 ways to avoid the guilt trap

By Leslie Petruk

We've all experienced it...the dreaded parenting guilt. You blame yourself whenever you see your child fail or if they are unhappy or struggling. You beat yourself up after you lose your cool when your child misbehaves, you wonder how you have failed your child when they come home with a bad test grade, and you are sure iti is your fault that ... Read more