Parents IEP Bill of Rights #KnowYourRights

If you are a parent of a child with a disability, READ UP! This is YOUR Bill of Rights for your child’s IEP:

1. Your child is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) as provided by an IEP.
2. An IEP must be in place at the beginning of each school year your child is eligible for special education.
3. An IEP must be reviewed by the IEP team at least once every year.
4. You must receive notice of when an IEP meeting is scheduled and YOU have the right to participate.
5. The IEP team must have at least 5 members present at an IEP meeting, including YOU and any “other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child” that you wish to bring.
6. At an IEP meeting, you must be given a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Notice – a list of YOUR RIGHTS.  And if you don’t understand them, the school representative must explain them to you (and/or provide you with a translation into your native language).
7. The IEP must have a definite, specific implementation (start) date.
8. You do not have to sign the IEP at the time of the IEP meeting.  You may take it home with you to read and review.  You also have the right to disagree and reject the proposed IEP.
9. Your child must be educated by “highly qualified” teachers and service providers.
10. Once an IEP is signed, it is a contract and the school must provide everything agreed to in the IEP, including periodic progress reports to YOU.

These are not your only Rights.  There are more, but we picked 10 of the most important ones.

For more information on IEPs or to learn more to #KnowYourRights, please visit our website SchoolKidsLawyer.com or purchase our book SchoolKidsLawyer’s Step-By-Step Guide to Special Education Law: Workbook for Parents, Advocates and Lawyers.