Special Ed Advocate Newsletter
Wrightslaw, our goals are to help you gain the information and skills
you need navigate the confusing world of special education. In this issue,
we look at testing, evaluations, and IEPs.
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." - John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach
Special Ed Advocate newsletter is free - please forward this
issue or the subscription
link to your friends and coworkers so they can learn about special
education law and advocacy too. We appreciate your help! Download this
1. Message from the Editor: IEPs, Educational Progress & FAPE
is just around the corner. If a child has a disability that adversely
affects educational performance, the child is entitled to a free,
appropriate public education (FAPE). In a nutshell, FAPE is an individualized
educational program (IEP) that is designed to meet the child's unique
needs and from which the child receives educational benefit.
can you tell if a child is receiving educational benefit? If you monitor
educational achievement test scores over time, you'll know if the child
is making progress and receiving educational benefit. Over the next several
weeks, we will help you fine-tune your knowledge about IEPs.
2. Measuring Progress with Objective Tests
Assume you have a medical condition - high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. You and your doctor develop a treatment plan. Your doctor measures your progress with objective medical tests. If your test results improve, this is evidence that the treatment plan is working. If your test results do not improve - or they get worse - your doctor is likely to revise the treatment plan and/or refer you to a specialist.
If you have
a child with a disability, you and school personnel will meet to develop
an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). The IEP is similar to a medical
treatment plan - it identifies present level of functioning, the child's
needs, services the child will receive, and how progress will be measured.
Educational progress can and should be measured with objective tests.
3. Tests, Testing Issues and Advocacy by Bill Matthew
Matthew, Director of Special Education in California, offers suggestions
about tests and and testing issues, including age & grade equivalents,
subtest scatter, improper use of projective tests, and tests that are
psychometrically sound. Read Tests,
Testing Issues & Advocacy.
4. Your Child's Evaluations
to Expect from an Evaluation, psychologist and literacy researcher
Marianne Meyer walks you through the process of gathering information
and participating in the evaluation process. Read
5. Coming Soon! Wrightslaw Programs in Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, New Hampshire
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training Programs focus on four areas: special education laws, rights & responsibilities; how to use the bell curve to measure educational progress & regression; SMART IEPs; and advocacy tactics & strategies.
Fort Wayne, IN: March 25, 2005 (Advocacy Training) Attorney Wayne Steedman and advocate Pat Howey present a full-day Wrightslaw training program.
Kansas City, MO: March 29, 2005 (Advocacy Training) - NEW
Glendale, AZ: April 1-2, 2005 (Boot Camp)
Manchester, NH: May 6-7, 2005 (Boot Camp)
participants will receive two books, Wrightslaw:
Special Education Law and Wrightslaw:
From Emotions to Advocacy, (Value: $59.90), and the new publication,
with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004: Overview, Explanation
and Comparison of IDEA 2004 & IDEA 97 by Peter Wright.
6. Why Are Wrightslaw Programs Held When Working Parents Like Me Can't Attend?
are your programs held during the day when working parents can't attend?
I'm a working mother. In my community, most mothers do not work full-time.
All school programs are held during the day."
7. Wrightslaw Books - Great Value. . . and Easy on Tight Budgets
Scratch-n-Dent Sale: Special Ed Law, From Emotions to Advocacy - $9.95 each - Limited quantities available. Scroll Down Page for Scratch n Dent
Discounts & Exam Copies
50% Discount on Bulk Purchases of Wrightslaw Books -The Advocacy Challenge Discount is a 50% discount on bulk purchases of Wrightslaw books.
If you are looking for help - or a helper
- visit the Yellow Pages
for Kids with Disabilities. Your state Yellow
Pages has many resources - evaluators, speech language therapists,
tutors, special ed schools, advocates, attorneys, organizations, and
Listings in the Yellow Pages: If you help parents get services
for children (i.e., an evaluator, educational consultant, academic tutor,
advocate, attorney, special ed school, etc.) or you facilitate a support
or study group for parents, submit an application be listed in the Yellow
Pages for Kids. Send an email to email@example.com
for an application. Listings in the Yellow Pages are free.
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.