IEP school tips for Missouri parents

Schools often don’t put plans into place legitimately unless a parent pursues action. Many parents are contacting us to share accounts of student’s who now  attend in a new building but the positive behavior strategies mistakenly aren’t implemented  from the previous year, although though the IEP continues in effect.

Public school staff often don’t understand the importance of proactively implementing behavior plans and accommodations.  Many students with ADD or ADHD need time for extra movement; or to do their desk work while standing.  Advocates at TheIEPCenter.com™ inform parents how other parents solved IEP problems  so the parent can advocate for the child with special needs. Schools often don’t put plans into place legitimately unless a parent pursues action.  Educational “systems” move slowly.  It’s what a parent doesn’t know that can deprive children of needed services.  We go to IEP meetings with parents* or participate online or telephone.

Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Waiting too long to address concerns eliminates opportunities for correction.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ helps parents at low-cost.  SEPAL provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.  Thankfully, we are not affiliated with any government agency.

We support parents who prepare for school meetings and also go to school meetings with parents*.

©2018, 2023 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

*prior arrangements necessary; travel limitations.

Note:  Spring of 2023, the Missouri legislature has bills related to the power parents have for our kids with special needs’ who utilize public school.  Senator Eigel’s bill “Empowering  Missouri Parents Act” is worth considering.

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school suspension of special ed student in Missouri

More parents are contacting me about out-of-school suspensions for students with behaviors related to the disability.  The most frequent disability mentioned is “autism spectrum”.

Many districts believe, in error, that these students can be suspended up to ten days on a whim.  Although state regulations allow for such consideration, it is not necessarily compliant with the district’s duty to provide a free education, nor how people with disabilities are to be treated by public entities. Yes, school boards have been known to make policy that is not consistent and state and federal law.

A strong advocate can make a huge difference in the relationship a parent has with a public school district.  Many parents have told me that the school now respects them and no longer manipulates them.  There are several approaches parents can use to take control!

Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Waiting too long to address concerns eliminates opportunities for correction.  Time is your enemy.

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Contact an advocate here:

Parent/Adult name(s)(required)

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child age/disability(required)

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If child not attending school, why?

Parent phone numbers and best time to be reached (10 digits)

Optional: name of school district

Is a school meeting scheduled within ten days?

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We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also participate in school meetings with parents, including manifestation determination meetings.

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.   We are not attorneys and do not give advice. We are not licensed to practice law in any state. We do not represent anyone.  Consult an attorney. Good news: we are not a government agency.

©2021-2022 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

Child advocate for student rights in IEP school meetings

The special ed law (IDEA) regulations allows for a parent to take to IEP meetings whomever the parent may invite.

Parents may have more control

Some parents take family members, some parents take case managers from other agencies.  Taking someone is better than taking nobody.

Click here to meet or talk with advocate

However, who you take with you makes a difference.  In my experience, parents who took case managers from other agencies (systems) experienced the status quo from school district personnel. Parent’s don’t have to take a “fake” advocate.   After all, most case managers knowledge and experience with school districts is similar to how parents are treated regardless, and the school may routinely bamboozle them.  You and your case manager walk away from the IEP meeting assuming the meeting was productive which may not be reality.  School systems are very different from other public assistance/mental health systems.

The public education system in many states  is often filled with internal politics, hidden agendas, clicks and demagoguery.  Although Congress expects parents to pursue “individualizing” a program for our child, it may become one individual taking on an institution.  There are alternatives, allowed by Congress,  to multiple school meetings.

Our advocates are familiar with the tactics school districts use to keep parents at bay which  results in the child receiving a minimal “schooling” of our child.  Over the years many parents expressed to our advocates the parent was treated with respect and much differently than before.  Some of the most effective “buttons” a parent can “push” can occur outside or before an upcoming IEP meeting.

The IEP Center.com advocates are aware of strategies parents can trigger to work the system and avoid getting bamboozled.  We are available to participate online or telephone with parents in  iep meetings, suspension hearings, manifestation-determination meetings and mediation*. 

Don’t be bamboozled!   Parents who are serious about their child’s schooling and tired of being bamboozled use advocates at The IEP Center.com.  Parents who are serious about their child’s education use our advocates.

Contact our office for details, limitations and requirements.

To have an advocate contact you complete this form:

Name(required)

Email(required)

state where child attends school(required) MO KS OK TX CALIFORNIA Other

Struggles at the school(required)

age/disability of child

Phone #s of parent

If the school set an upcoming meeting, when is it?

If child is not attending school, why?

Optional: Name of school district

Submit

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Read our blog (click below) commentary to learn how IEP meetings may not always the most efficient method to pursue correction of a public school problem.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center.com™ are not attorneys and do not give legal advice. We are civil rights advocates.   We do not give advice; we give information about the problems of children with special needs. We do not represent anyone. We are not licensed to practice law in any state. Consult an attorney.

©2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 Copyright Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC

Your child is worth it; this is a low-cost service.  Thankfully, we are not affiliated with any government agency.

**Participation in IEP meeting with the school contingent on factors including availability, applicability, prepayment, scope, locale, jurisdictional restrictions, other. Participation may be via telephone, virtual, or in person.

Fixing IEP problems at public school in Missouri?