It's mid-January - time to review your child's IEP. Is your child making good progress toward the goals in the IEP? How do you know?

Have you received your child's progress report toward meeting the annual goals? (you should receive IEP progress reports at report card time) Download this issue of the newsletter.

In this issue, we will discuss IEPs under IDEA 2004 and what you can ask the school to do.

But first, we need your help.

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1. Online IDEA 2004 Training?

As you know, IDEA 2004 went into effect on July 1, 2005. We have received scores of requests for IDEA 2004 training - more than we can possibly honor. This led us to consider other ways to provide this much-needed training.

For the past two months, we have investigated audio and web-based training programs. We learned that there are three main ways to provide training.

Telephone conference call: After receiving a toll-free dial-in telephone number and pass code, participants listen to a conference call. Least expensive; less interesting.

Web conference: After receiving a toll-free phone number and pass code, participants meet in a central online meeting room. The training can include visual elements like Power Point slides, interactive polls and Q&A sessions. Participants must have a computer with an Internet connection and a phone line to hear the presenter.

Webinar: Same as web conferences except that the audio is streamed over the Internet instead of carried on a separate phone line. Webinars are most often used for structured events like training programs.

We want your advice and input before we make a decision to spend the time, energy, and funds to provide online training.

We appreciate your answering six short questions.

To help us sort your responses, please type ONLINE TRAINING (in ALL CAPS) in the Subject line of your email, and send your email to training | at | wrightslaw.com

Questions

1. Are you interested in online training about IDEA 2004? (no commitment)

2. Are you interested in online training in another area (i.e., SMART IEPs, tests and measurements, No Child Left Behind)

3. If you are interested in online training, which format do you prefer?

Telephone conference call
Web conference (online conference with separate phone line)
Webinar (online conference with streaming audio)

4. If you are interested in online training, would you access the program at home or at work?

5. What is your connection speed? (dial-up, DSL, cable, other)

6. If a program is 90 minutes long, what is your preferred start time? (i.e., 10 am, 2 pm, 8 pm)

7. Do you have other thoughts or ideas that will help us make a wise decision?

Please type ONLINE TRAINING (ALL CAPS) in the subject line of your email, then send your answers to train | at | wrightslaw.com

This is a new area for us. We appreciate your ideas and suggestions!

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2. Good IEPs Goals: A Tactics & Strategy Session by Pete and Pam Wright

How can you get good goals in your child's IEP? What can you do if the school wants to use "teacher observations," not objective testing in the IEP?

In this wide-ranging interview by the President of a state LDA chapter, you will learn about:

* requirements for present levels of academic achievement & functional performance
* how to use a private educational consultant
* requirements for measurable academic and functional goals
* accommodations and modifications
* impact of low expectations
* how to avoid methodology disputes
* tutoring & how to find qualified tutors
* response to intervention (RTI)
* extended school year (ESY)
* the parent's (active) role

Read Good IEPs: A Tactics and Strategy Session by Pete and Pam Wright.

Learn more about IEPs.

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3. My Child is Not Learning - What Can I Ask the School to Do?

Sue Heath answers questions about what parents can ask the school to do and how to prepare for school meetings.

Learn about IEPs, research-based reading programs, retention, and other thorny issues in What Can I Ask the School to Do?

Read more articles by Sue in Doing Your Homework.

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4. Get Help from the Yellow Pages for Kids

"Help! I am having problems with the school - I need an advocate!"

"Help! I need to get an evaluation of my child - where can I find a good evaluator?"

To answer your requests for help, we built Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities for every state and territory.

Your state Yellow Pages includes listings for psychologists, educational diagnosticians, therapists, health care providers, academic tutors, special education schools, advocates, attorneys, support and study groups, and others who provide services to parents and children.

If you are looking for help, visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities!

To Providers: Getting Listed

If you help parents and caregivers get services for children with disabilities (i.e., as an evaluator, educational consultant, academic tutor, advocate, attorney, special ed school, etc.) or you facilitate a support or study group, please submit an application be listed on your state Yellow Pages for Kids.

Just send an email to app@yellowpagesforkids.com for an application.

Listings are free!

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5. Wrightslaw Training Programs: February 2006

February includes programs in Georgia and Virginia:

February 2: Duluth GA - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training; keynote; breakout sessions

February 11: Atlanta, GA - Keynote, breakout sessions at the Annual Conference of the Georgia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association

February 20: Northern VA - What You Don't Know About IDEA CAN Hurt You!

Full 2006 Schedule l Program Descriptions

We are scheduling programs for Fall 2006 and 2007. If you are interested in bringing a Wrightslaw program to your community, please read Conference Information.

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6. Subscription & Contact Info