Sometimes sharing less information with the school district is more beneficial for the student and parent. The district may be less likely to manipulate parents who are strongly advocating for their child when the district doesn’t know a parents financial situation. After all, parents who might have extensive resources available might be in a better position to pursue challenges with the district. While on the other hand, a parent who exposes their lack of resources may lose any “edge” in positioning.
For example, when FAPE is at issue, a parent may trigger a unlilateral placement at a private facility* when the parent disagrees with the public school FAPE offer. Typically the parent must pay the tuition at the private facility until a hearing officer decides otherwise. Poor parents don’t have the luxury to trigger this option; that is, the ability to temporarily pay private tuition. As a result, the child of the poor parent languishes in an inappropriate program.
When IEP meetings seem fruitless; parents might consider mediation. It’s not like an IEP meeting. A mediator from the state facilitates the session and often an agreement is reached. Advocates from The IEP Center help parents prepare for mediation and can go to the session as well.
*there are many stipulations to this; read IDEA!
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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are not attorneys and do not give advice. Consult an attorney. We do not represent parents or children. Seek legal advice from an attorney.
We help parents at low-cost. We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.
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