Chapter 6. Resolving Parent-School Conflict
The Nature of Parent-School Conflict
Beliefs, Perceptions and Interests
When Interests Conflict
Real Issues: Expense and Control
Expense of Individualized Programs
Loss of Control
Strategies to Deal with Common Parent-School Problems
Different Views of the Child
Lack of Information
Lack of Options
Hidden Issues
Feeling Devalued
Poor Communication and Intimidation
Loss of Trust
Tips to Resolve Problems
Negotiate to Resolve Problems
Never Underestimate the Importance of "Face"
In Summation
Chapter
7. Emergency, Crisis, Help!
Help! Events That Trigger Crises
Crisis Management, Step-by-Step
Short-Term Solutions
Control Your Emotions
Remove Your Child from the Middle
Long Term Planning
Begin a Program of Self-Study
Join a Support Group
Learn About Legal Rights and Responsibilities
Learn About Special Education
Get Advocacy Information From Your State
Request Your Child's Records
Get a Comprehensive Evaluation
Examine Your Beliefs
In Summation
Section
Three. The Parent as Expert
Chapter 8. Evaluations and Your Child's Disability
Get a Comprehensive Evaluation
Finding Evaluators
Understanding Test Results
Limitations of School Evaluations
Learn About the Disability
Learn from Organizations
Learn from the Treatment Team
Learn from School Personnel
Effective Educational Practices
In Summation
Chapter
9. The File: Do It Right!
Document Management System
Gather Information About Your Child
Make a Master Provider List
Request Your Child's Records
Request Your Child's Educational Records
Organizing the Master File
Step 1: Date All Documents
Step 2: File All Documents in a Three-Ring Notebook
Step 3: Read the Master File for the "Big Picture"
Create Your List of Documents
In Summation
Chapter
10. Tests and Measurements 101
Mike
Measuring Growth: Rules, Yardsticks, and Other Tools
Measuring Educational Change: Test Scores
Learning About Evaluations
Overcoming Fears
Learning What Tests Measure
Statistics 101
You Use Statistics to Measure and Describe Relationships
You Use Statistics to Make Decisions
You Use Statistics to Measure Change
You Use Statistics to Compare
The Bell Curve: A Powerful Tool
You Can Make Comparisons
You Can Measure Effectiveness
You Can Measure Progress
You Can Compare Scores
You Can Compare One Child to Many
You Can Compare Groups
Learning How Test Scores Are Reported
Learning About Raw Scores
Learning About Scale Scores
Learning About Composite Scores
Learning About Subtest Scatter
In Summation
Chapter
11. Tests and Measurements 102
Katie
Learning About Composite Scores
When Apparent Progress Means Actual Regression
Using Pre- and Post-Testing to Measure Progress
Norm-Referenced and Criterion-Referenced Tests
Learning About Standard Deviations
Learning About Standard Scores
Learning About Subtest Scores
Test Categories and Descriptions
Intellectual or Cognitive Tests
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III)
Stanford-Binet, Fourth Edition (SB:IV)
Educational Achievement Tests
Screening Tests
Comprehensive Achievement Tests
Single-Subject Tests
Personality Tests
Behavior Rating Scales
Speech and Language Tests
Neuropsychological Tests
Charting Test Scores
Creating Progress and Regression Charts
Using Test Scores in Your Child's IEPs
Your Homework Assignment
In Summation
Chapter
12. SMART IEPs
Learning About SMART IEPs
Specific
Measurable
Action Words
Realistic and Relevant
Time-limited
Smart IEP Goals and Objectives
Present Levels of Performance
Definitions: Goals, Objectives and Benchmarks
Legal Definitions: Goals, Objectives and Benchmarks
Appropriate Goals and Objectives
Acquiring Basic Skills
Measuring and Monitoring the Child's Progress
Advising the Parent About Child's Progress
Reviewing and Revising the Child's IEP
Learning to Write SMART Goals and Objectives
The SMART Weight Loss Program
Present Levels
Measurable Goals and Objectives
Revising Your Goals and Objectives
Using Objective Data
Making Decisions
Measuring Progress
Mike Trains for the Fitness Test
Kevin Learns to Type
Megan Learns to Read
Non-Goals: Attitude Statements
Strategies: How to Deal with Attitude Goals
Non-Goals: States of Being
Homework Assignment #1: You Learn to Write Goals
Homework Assignment #2: You Learn to Write SMART IEP Goals and Objectives
In Summation
Section
Four. Special Education Law
Chapter 13. IDEA - Overview and Legislative Intent
Legislative Intent
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997
In Summation
Chapter
14. IDEA - Section 1400: Findings and Purposes
20 U.S.C. § 1400 Congressional Findings and Purpose
Wrightslaw Discussion of Findings and Purposes
In Summation
Chapter
15. IDEA - Section 1401: Definitions
20 U.S.C. § 1401 Definitions
Wrightslaw Discussion of Definitions
Eligibility for Special Education
Special Education
Related services
Supplemental aids and services
Specific learning disability
Assistive technology
Transition services
Free appropriate public education (FAPE)
In Summation
Chapter
16. IDEA - Section 1412: Child Find, LRE, ESY, Child Find, Private Placement,
Assessments
20 U.S.C. § 1412 - State Eligibility
Wrightslaw Discussion of Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment,
Private Placements, State and District Assessments
Extended School Year
Child Find
Least Restrictive Environment
Mainstreaming
Testing and Evaluation Materials
Reimbursement
High Stakes Testing
In Summation
Chapter
17. IDEA - Section 1414: Evaluations, Eligibility, IEPs and Placement
20 U.S.C. § 1414(a) Evaluations and Reevaluations.
Wrightslaw Discussion of Evaluations and Eligibility
20 U.S.C. § 1414(d) Individualized Education Programs.
Wrightslaw Discussion of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and
Placement
Definition of the IEP
Required Components of the IEP
Transition Planning in Your Child's IEP
Members of Your Child's IEP Team
Behavior Issues in Your Child's IEP
Reviewing and Revising Your Child's IEP
Making Decisions About Your Child's Placement
Parent Input in the IEP
In Summation
Chapter
18. IDEA - Section 1415: Procedural Safeguards, Due Process, Discipline,
etc.
20 U.S.C. § 1415 - Procedural Safeguards
Wrightslaw Discussion of Prior Written Notice and Procedural Safeguards
Notice
Examine Records
Prior Written Notice
Complaint Resolution: Mediation, Due Process Hearings, Appeals
to Court
20 U.S.C. § 1415(e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) - Mediation, Due
Process Hearings, Appeals to Court
Wrightslaw Discussion of Mediation, Due Process Hearings, Appeals to
Court, Attorneys' Fees
Mediation
Confidentiality
Preparing for Mediation
Statute of Limitations
Due Process Hearings
Exhibits
Hearing Officers and Administrative Law Judges
"Stay Put"
Attorneys' fees
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
Successful Outcomes
20 U.S.C. § 1415(k) Placement in Alternative Educational Setting
Wrightslaw Discussion of Discipline
Suspensions for up to 10 days
Suspensions for more than 10 days
Behavioral Intervention Plan
School Must Provide FAPE
Put Your Concerns in Writing
Medications and Controlled Substances
20 U.S.C. § 1415 (m) Transfer of Parental Rights at Age of
Majority.
Wrightslaw Discussion of Age of Majority
Chapter
19. Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act
Wrightslaw Discussion of Section 504, ADA and IDEA
Eligibility
Protection from Discrimination
Accommodations and Modifications
Confusion about Benefits and Rights
Access v. Educational Benefit
Discipline
Procedural Safeguards
Impartial Hearings
Section 504, ADA, High Stakes Testing, Statewide Assessments
In Summation
Chapter
20. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FERPA
Educational Records
Right to Inspect and Review Educational Records
Disclosures
Destruction of Records
Test Protocols and Answer Booklets
In Summation
Section
Five. Tactics and Strategies
Chapter
21. The Rules of Adverse Assumptions
The
Rules of Adverse Assumptions
Assumption 1: There will be a due process hearing.
Assumption
2: You will initiate the due process hearing.
Assumption 3: All school personnel will testify against you.
Assumption 4: The school personnel you thought could be forced
to make damaging admissions will not do so.
Assumption 5: Your Hearing Officer or Administrative Law Judge
is biased against parents of children with disabilities.
Assumption 6: You cannot testify at your due process hearing.
To Avoid Conflict, Prepare for Conflict
Proof and Evidence
Your Evidence
Their Evidence
Your Witnesses
Simple Themes Win Cases
In Summation
Chapter
22. Creating Paper Trails
Why Document?
Logs, Journals and Calendars
Your Contact Log
Your Journal
Your Calendar
How to Use a Problem Report
Handling Telephone Calls
In Summation
Chapter
23. How to Write Good Evidence Letters
Why You Write Letters
To Request Information
To Request Action
To Provide Information or Describe an Event
To Decline a Request
To Express Appreciation
Strategies: Writing Good Letters
Easy Reading
Getting to the Point
Speaking to the Recipient
Being Courteous
Making It Easy to Follow
Prompting the Reader to Act
Ending with Courtesy
Giving Contact Information
Letter Writing Pitfalls
Using Strategies in Letters
Remember the Rules of Adverse Assumptions
Visualize the Stranger
Make Your Problem Unique
Edit and Revise
Make a Good First Impression
Speak to the Reader
In Summation
Chapter
24. Writing the "Letter to the Stranger"
The Blame Approach
Impact of Angry Letters
The Story-Telling Approach
Using Persuasive Strategies in Letters
Avoiding the "Sympathy Factor "
Making a Good Impression
Writing "Letters to the Stranger"
To Negotiate
To Persuade
Do Not Send Certified Letters
Strategies: Hand-Deliver Letters
In Summation
Chapter
25. Preparing for Meetings: Taking Control
You are a Negotiator
Five Rules for Successful Problem Solving
Rule 1: Know what you want.
Rule 2. Do not blame or criticize.
Rule 3. Protect the parent-school relationship.
Rule 4. Seek win-win solutions to problems.
Rule 5. Understand the school district's position.
Perceptions
Interests
Fears
Preparing for School Meetings
Use the Pre-Meeting Worksheet
Organize and Review the File
Brainstorm
Use a Parent Agenda
Handouts and Charts
Practice!
Image and Presentation
In Summation
Chapter
26. Meeting Strategies: Maintaining Control
School Meeting Anxiety
Both Parents Attend Meetings
Do Not Go Alone
Tape Recording Meetings
Taping Problems
Meeting Dynamics
Common Meeting Problems
"We Can't Do That"
"The Law Does Not Allow Us to Do That"
Dealing with the "Draft IEP"
When the Meeting Ends Without Resolution
Strategies to Use in Disputes
Use the Problem-Resolution Worksheet
Post-meeting Strategies
Your Recollections
Your Thank You Letter
In Summation
Chapter
27. In Summation
Appendices
Appendix A. Appendix A to 34 C.F.R. Part 300
Appendix
B. Your Rights and Responsibilities Under IDEA
Appendix C. Frequently Asked Questions About Special Education, from
NICHCY
Appendix D. State Departments of Special Education
Appendix E. Parent Training Information Centers by State
Appendix F. Disabilities Organizations and Information Groups
Appendix G. Legal and Advocacy Resources
Appendix H. Free Publications
Appendix I. Sample Letters to the School
Appendix J. Glossary of Special Education and Legal Terms
Appendix K. Glossary of Assessment Terms
Bibliography
Index
Wrightslaw:
From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide
will be published by Harbor
House Law Press in the Fall of 2001.
For more
information about Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy,
please visit the FETA
Page at Wrightslaw
Subscribers to The Special Ed Advocate newsletter
will receive a special pre-publication offer when the book is sent to
the printer.
Information
about books by Pete and Pam Wright.
