What role does a parent play in his/her child's education?

Parents are their children’s best advocates. Parents know their children better than anyone else. That is why parents are so important when a child needs special education. As a parent, you must give permission to the school to evaluate your child for special education services under the IDEA. You must also give your permission before the school can provide any special education services to your child.  You have a right to be involved in the team that meets to write the "Evaluation Team Report" after your child is evaluated.  You have a right to request an Independent Evaluation if you disagree with the evaluation the school does.  You, as the parent, have a right to participate on your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team and help decide what services the school must provide to your child.  Your child has the right to receive services under the IDEA, but you, the parent, are charged with the responsibility for participating in the process with your child and making requests on behalf of your child.  Under the IDEA, the parent holds all of the child's due process rights in special education until the child turns 18.

What can I do to help my child get the attention they need?

Parents must speak up, advocate for their children, and make sure their children get the help they need.  Under the IDEA, a parent has the right to request that his/her child be evaluated to determine whether the child has a disability that qualifies him/her for special education services.  As mentioned above, a parent also has a right to participate on his/her child's IEP Team, which is the group that decides what services the school will provide the child.  Every child needs different services, so parents should learn as much as they can about their child's disability or disabilities and advocate for full and appropriate services for their child during IEP Team meetings.  Parents should also work with their child at home to ensure that services/accomodations the child is receiving at school are continued and consistent at home.

Is there an additional cost for special education?

No.  Schools receive some money from the federal (U.S.) government to pay for special education services, but often schools do not receive enough money to cover all of the services a child needs.  Schools cannot, however, refuse to give your child a service he needs because it costs too much.  The IDEA requires school to provide the services a child needs to gain a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), which means at no cost to the parents.

Do I have to have special credentials to request an evaluation or an IEP team meeting?

No.  You have a right, as your child's parent, to request an evaluation and an IEP team meeting if you think it is necessary.  See the other topics under "Special Education" on this website for more information about these processes.

How can I be a better advocate for my child?

1. Do Your Homework

   Learn as much as you can about your child’s disability. Check out books or tapes from your public library. Get information from your local State Support Team (Note:  SSTs used to be called Special Education Regional Resource Centers, or SERRC). If you can, talk to experts about your child's disability, including doctors, psychologists, therapists, etc. Ask your child’s doctors questions. Ask your child’s teachers questions. The more you know, the more confident you will feel when you talk to people at the school.

2. Get Organized

   Being organized makes life much easier. Keep all notes and records about your child’s education in one place. Put them in some kind of order so that you can easily find information later. Use a file folder, large envelope, 3-ring binder, or even a file box. Organize everything by date and by grade. Find a system that works for you. If you have more than one child who receives special education services, use a separate folder for each child so that you do not mix up their records.

   Keep every letter you get from the school. Keep copies of all report cards and discipline notices. If your child is in special education, keep a copy of every “multifactored evaluation,” or MFE, and every “individualized education program,” or IEP. Always communicate important things to the school in writing. Always put a date on your letter and keep a copy in your records. If you have an oral conversation with a teacher or school principal about an important issue, follow up with a letter summarizing the conversation, so you have a record.
   

   Keep one notebook for each of your children. Take notes whenever you talk to someone from the school or go to a school meeting.

What are some other things that I should do?

When making or receiving telephone calls, take good notes on the following:

• Who did you talk to on the phone?

• What time and day was the call?

• What did you say?

• What did the school say?

• What did you ask for?

• What was the school’s response?

• What decisions were made?

• Did you agree with the decisions? Why or why not?

When attending school meetings, take good notes on the following:

• What time and day was the meeting?

• Where was the meeting?

• Did you or the school ask for the meeting?

• Who was at the meeting?

• What did you say?

• What did the school say?

• What did you ask for?

• What was the school’s response?

• What decisions were made?

• Did you agree with the decisions? Why or why not?

You may never need any of these papers. But if something happens later, you will be upset with yourself if you cannot remember what a paper said that you threw away or what someone told you that you did not write down.

Should I talk to my child or avoid the subject?

Talk to your child. This is very important. You cannot be at school to make sure your child is learning. You must have some trust in your child and your child’s teachers, but you must also be sure that you know your child's perspective on what is going on, whether he/she likes school, what he/she is learning. Make sure your child feels comfortable talking to you about school. Try not to judge or yell if your child comes to you with questions or problems. If you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to call your child's teacher and talk to him or her.

What questions should I be asking my child?

• Ask what they learned at school that day.

• Ask if they understood their assignment.

• Ask if they have homework.

• Ask if they got in trouble.

• If so, ask why and what the teacher did.

• Ask your child who his or her friends are and what kind of things he/she does with them.
  

How do I talk to my child about a disability?

If your child has a disability, explain it to her. Ask her how she feels. Ask your child’s doctor or teacher to help you. Children know when they do not learn like other children. Children know when they are being treated differently than other children. It will help if they know why.

All children can learn, but everyone learns in different ways. If the teacher is treating them differently, it is to help them learn. It is not because they are in trouble or not smart.

Should I talk to my child’s teachers?

This is the best way to make sure you are hearing the whole story. Plus, teachers want the children in their class to do well. Most teachers will be willing to listen to your suggestions. Listen to them too. It is much better for children if their parents and teachers work together.

Remember: The school is only required to give your child an appropriate education, not the best education. If you are worried that the school is not providing an appropriate education to meet the needs of your child, contact one of the organizations listed below for help.

• Your Local Legal Aid Office or call 1-866-LAW-OHIO (529-6446)
  

• Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS)or call 1-800-282-9181
  

• Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) or call 1-800-374-2806
  

• Parent Mentors - Ask your school district if they have one.

• Private Attorneys - Ask your local Legal Aid office or check your local yellow pages.