| Who is accountable for your child's education when | | | | IEP? Do you know the key components that should |
| they have special needs? Over twenty years ago I | | | | be in each and every goal on your child's IEP? Are |
| watched my mother hold the school accountable for | | | | you using your parent addendum to it's full potential? |
| my brother's education. He has Down Syndrome and | | | | Finding the answers to these questions tailored to |
| was not learning to his potential. After completing | | | | your child is the first step in learning how to navigate |
| both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Special | | | | an appropriate education for your child. |
| Education I was under the impression the school | | | | Take Action! When the mechanics of an IEP are |
| system had changed and I would be able to teach | | | | learned, the shadiness of the system starts to |
| my students to reach their potential. | | | | diminish. It becomes clear what is and is not being |
| I could not. Administrative policies and unwritten | | | | done for your child. Now is NOT the time to violate |
| understandings behind the scene made it impossible | | | | the trust you have built through investigation process. |
| to teach what needed to be taught. I became ill from | | | | It is the time to begin working with the staff through |
| the stress month after month and began calling | | | | the difficulties. Parent instincts most of the times are |
| parents to teach them how they could help their | | | | to either become aggressive and demanding or to |
| child. There are many laws and policies in effect to | | | | justify what the staff has been doing. Find your path |
| help these children, but it's up to the parents to hold | | | | in the middle. Take steps to work with the team and |
| the schools accountable. | | | | to become a true active part of the team to |
| Investigate! How do you hold schools accountable for | | | | remedy the inappropriate parts of your child's day. |
| your child's education? Find out what is truly | | | | You must be firm, but not accusing. |
| happening in your child's school day. Are the | | | | Follow Through! Holding a school and the team |
| therapists completing their sessions? What does your | | | | accountable is not a one-time action. You must find a |
| child's school day look like? Is the Individual Education | | | | way to follow through consistently with you child's |
| Plan (IEP) being followed through with? When was | | | | education. This will entail consistent information |
| the last time you read the IEP? How is your child | | | | gathering from the staff. Active participation in |
| supposed to be evaluated and what data has those | | | | decision making for your child's education and |
| evaluations provided? All of these answers should be | | | | continued education for yourself in regards to both |
| provided in writing by the staff that works with your | | | | the school system and your child's needs. |
| child. Be creative in finding answers to assure open | | | | Remember, I was a classroom teacher. Taking these |
| communication between yourself and the school. The | | | | steps can bring your child miles towards success |
| key is to investigate through relationship building with | | | | within the school system. Stay positive, yet firm |
| the staff. | | | | about your choices about your child. Do not blame |
| Get Educated! There are many other questions to | | | | others for your child's failures or education path; take |
| ask to assure accountability within the school system, | | | | responsibility for what has happened and what is |
| but the key for each and every parent is to become | | | | happening. Hold your school accountable for your |
| educated and focused on their child's education. You | | | | child's education by becoming an active participant in |
| need to become educated! Do you know what a | | | | the education team! |
| proper Present Level of Performance looks like on an | | | | |