The Special Ed Advocate, January 15, 2003 (Issue 193)
In this issue of The Special Ed Advocate, we look at the right to a free,
appropriate, public education (FAPE); educational benefit - and how to measure
it; parent-tested strategies to get an appropriate program; facts
about retention and social promotion; how to get help from the Yellow Pages; and
the Wrightslaw Tour.
Download printer-friendly version of this newsletter: http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/03/nl.0115.htm
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instructions at the end of this newsletter.
FLYER! If you want to help others learn about special education law and
advocacy, please download, print and distribute the Wrightslaw flyer. The flyer
is in two formats: html and pdf.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/flyers/wrightslaw2.flyer.htm
http://www.wrightslaw.com/flyers/wrightslaw2.flyer.pdf
Where can you distribute the flyer? At school meetings, doctor's offices,
hospitals, and day care centers - wherever parents are found!
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1. "WHY NOT THE BEST?" 4 LESSSONS ABOUT FAPE
2. WRIGHTSLAW GUIDE TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION (FAPE)
3. EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT - WHAT IS IT, HOW CAN YOU MEASURE IT?
4. HOW CAN I GET THE SCHOOL TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE PROGRAM?
5. ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RETENTION & SOCIAL PROMOTION
6. NEED HELP? VISIT THE YELLOW PAGES
7. WRIGHTSLAW TOUR - SHREVEPORT, BATON ROUGE, NEW ORLEANS & ORLANDO
(FEBRUARY 2003)
8. SUBSCRIPTION & CONTACT INFO
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1. "WHY NOT THE BEST?" - 4 LESSSONS ABOUT FAPE
We receive many questions from parents about how to get the BEST program for
their child or a program that maximizes the child's potential. Is your child
entitled to the best program? Is your child entitled to a program
that maximizes the child's potential?
For answers to these questions -- and "Four Lessons About FAPE," read
"Loving Parents Want What's Best for Their Child" at -
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape.notbest.htm
For more information about special education rights and responsibilities, you
will want to visit these pages:
IEP Page: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm
Topics, A-Z: http://www.wrightslaw.com/topics.htm
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2. WRIGHTSLAW GUIDE TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION (FAPE)
If you have a child with a disability, your child is entitled to a free
appropriate public education (FAPE). To answer your questions, we built the FAPE
page with links to articles, cases, and other resources:
FAPE Page: http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape.index.htm
The legal concept of “FAPE” is shorthand for “free, appropriate public
education.” FAPE is defined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
of 1997 (IDEA) at 20 U. S. C. § 1401(8) (See Wrightslaw: Special
Education Law, page 27) and in the Code of Federal Regulations at 34 C.F.R. §
300.13 (See Wrightslaw: Special Ed Law, page 142).
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bks/lawbk/spedlaw.htm
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3. EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT - WHAT IS IT, HOW CAN YOU MEASURE IT?
In a nutshell, FAPE is an individualized educational program that is designed to
meet the child's unique needs and from which the child receives educational
benefit.
How can you tell if your child is receiving educational benefit? If you compare
the child's educational test scores over time, you will know if your child is
receiving educational benefit.
To learn how to use test results to measure educational benefit, download, print
and study "Tests & Measurements for the Parent, Educator, Advocate
& Attorney:"
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/tests_measurements.html
BTW: This article is now available in a printer-friendly format - you will find
a link on the first page of the Tests and Measurements article.
Learn more about testing and assessments:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/test.index.htm
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4. HOW CAN I GET THE SCHOOL TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE PROGRAM?
Read our correspondence with one parent as she lobbies for the educational
services her son needs.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/ltrs/ltr_kate_dyslexic_son.html
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5. ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RETENTION & SOCIAL PROMOTION
As states implement new "high stakes" tests, many school districts
offer two solutions when kids do not learn in the standardized one-size-fits-all
program - retention & social promotion. If your child's school wants to
retain your child, what should you do?
First, you need to find out what the experts say about retention. You will find
a list of resources about retention and social promotion below. You will learn
that retention and social promotion are not appropriate
solutions - and may damage your child.
Next, you need to use resources published the U. S. Department of Education and
the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to support your position
that retention is not an appropriate solution for
your child.
These resources will help you get up and running:
"Should I Allow the School Retain My Child?" answers a parent's
frequently asked questions about retention - it is not a good idea.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape_retention.htm
"To Promote or Retain?" provides a summary of research on retention
showing that retention is not an appropriate intervention for children who have
academic delays.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/Promote_or_Retain.htm
"Retention is Not the Answer." A North Carolina school psychologist
writes about retention and social promotions, and his state's policy of
retaining children while ignoring research that retention is not an appropriate
intervention.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/ltrs/ltr_NCschoolpsych_retention_990415.html
According to "Ending Social Promotion" by the U. S. Department of
Education, neither social promotion nor retention is appropriate for students
who do not meet high academic standards. This article focuses on
accountability and school's responsibility to implement high academic standards
for all students.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/fape.social.promote.htm
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6. NEED HELP? VISIT THE YELLOW PAGES
We built the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities so you can find information
and support. The Yellow Pages include hundreds of resources - grassroots
organizations, parent support groups, evaluators, educational
consultants, academic tutors, advocates, attorneys, and other who provide
services to parents and children.
Visit your state Yellow Pages at http://www.fetaweb.com/help/states.htm
To get the word out about the Yellow Pages, we designed flyers for each state.
Please distribute your state Yellow Pages Flyer at schools, day care centers,
libraries, doctor's and psychologist's offices, community
centers, and hospitals. Get your State Yellow Pages Flyer now!
http://www.fetaweb.com/help/state.flyers.htm
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7. WRIGHTSLAW TOUR - SHREVEPORT, BATON ROUGE, NEW ORLEANS & ORLANDO
(FEBRUARY 2003)
In February, we hit the road on the WRIGHTSLAW TOUR with stops in Shreveport,
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Orlando!
* February 12, 2003: Shreveport, Advocacy Training
This one-day advocacy training program focuses on four areas: special education
law, rights and responsibilities; how to use the bell curve to measure progress
& regression; SMART IEPs; and how to use tactics &
strategies for effective advocacy.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.02.12.la.htm
* February 14-15, 2003: Baton Rouge, BOOT CAMP
On Friday, you'll learn about special education law, rights and
responsibilities, tests and measurements, and how to use the bell curve to
measure educational progress or regression. On Saturday, you'll learn about
SMART IEPs and tactics and strategy for effective advocacy.
We will test your skills and knowledge and give you feedback about your
progress. Learn more about the Baton Rouge Boot Camp:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.02.14.la.htm
* February 17, 2003. New Orleans, Advocacy Training
This one-day program focuses on special education law, rights and
responsibilities; how to use the bell curve to measure progress &
regression; SMART IEPs; and how to use tactics & strategies for effective
advocacy.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.02.17.la.htm
For more information about the Louisiana Tour, call Families Helping Families of
Greater Baton Rouge at 225-216-7474 or Toll Free at 866-216-7474, or call the
Baton Rouge Autism Society at 225-929-6544.
* February 25, 2003. Orlando, Free Advocacy Training
If you are a Florida resident, please join us for a FREE advocacy training
program in Orlando!
There is no charge to attend this “Seeds for Success” program - but you must
pre-register by mail or fax NO LATER than February 10, 2003.
* Space is limited to the first 150 registrants.*
http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.02.fl.htm
Please download and distribute the flyer designed by UCF- CARD
http://www.wrightslaw.com/flyers/fl.02.03.pdf
To learn if we are coming to your area, please check our Seminars & Training
page:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/index.htm
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8. SUBSCRIPTION & CONTACT INFO
The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education
legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. Subscribers
receive "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers
on Wrightslaw books.
Subscribe: http://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm
Newsletter Archives: http://www.wrightslaw.com/archives.htm
Seminars & Training: http://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/index.htm
Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities:http://www.fetaweb.com/help/states.htm
Help us spread the word about special education law and advocacy. Download a
banner or image from
http://www.wrightslaw.com/link_to_us.htm
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com
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