What’s your favorite carnival game? “Whack-A-Mole” or the “Ring Toss”, perhaps? Every day can feel like a never ending carnival game when trying to balance the needs of special education students during unprecedented staffing shortages exacerbated by the pandemic. Erin and Jeremy kindly remind us that an IEP is a contract and contract terms must be met regardless of extenuating circumstances. They cover a 2021 case from Kansas which highlights the importance of being transparent when navigating staffing shortages – and what can happen if you don’t! They provide practical tips such as prioritizing IEPs and engaging in open communication, which might just help you win a prize!

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Determining the right amount of parent participation can feel like rowing a boat in a thunderstorm. Jeremy and Erin try to help you steer the boat by identifying what is required and needed versus what is not, and how to find the right balance of engagement and communication throughout the process. They share the details of a decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that highlights the importance of ensuring the required procedural safeguards are in place at the frontend of the process so the relationship doesn’t go down like the Titanic.

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Looking for more information on this topic? Jeremy will be revisiting it during his “Building Parent Partnerships for Meaningful Participation” presentation at the LRP National Institute in New Orleans the week of April 17. He will also lead a session on “Coaching the Coaches and Advising the Advisors” regarding Section 504 compliance in extracurricular activities. Pam Leist is providing a half-day session on “All Things Autism” at the Post-Institute Symposium. This is the third year running with at least one member of the Ennis Britton Special Education Team speaking at this national conference.

The addition of a parent advocate can quickly change the dynamic of IEP planning meetings from sweet to sour. Jeremy and Erin discuss the law surrounding  IEP team membership specifically defined under IDEA and how you do or don’t define “expertise and specialized knowledge” of the child when an advocate is brought into the committee group. They share a recent case out of Pennsylvania which highlights the rights of school administrators in certain situations related to parent advocates. Practical tips – and tools – are included in the discussion which can help make the process more of a treat, less of a trick.  

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Receiving an OCR records request can be as scary as watching the latest horror movie and may make you want to “Scream”.  Jeremy and Erin help take the panic out of the request with some practical tips to get through the response process. They discuss two cases that highlight the importance of substantive 504 plans and documentation, and working with your legal counsel to narrow the focus of the requests.  

You can also listen here or on Spotify, Amazon and Google Podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.