The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child 5th Edition

427 Pages·2007·5.02 MB·English

by  Lawrence M. Siegel

5th Edition
The
Complete
IEP Guide
How to Advocate for
Your Special Ed Child
by Attorney Lawrence M. Siegel
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5th Edition
The
Complete
IEP Guide
How to Advocate for
Your Special Ed Child
by Attorney Lawrence M. Siegel
fifth Edition fEbruary 2007
Editor bEtsy simmons
book design tErri hEarsh
Production margarEt livingston
index southwEst indExing
Proofreading Paul tylEr
Printing ConsolidatEd PrintErs, inC.
siegel, lawrence m., 1946-
the complete iEP guide : how to advocate for your special ed child / by lawrence m.
siegel.-- 5th ed.
p. cm.
includes index.
isbn-13: 978-1-4133-0510-4
isbn-10: 1-4133-0510-5
1. individualized education programs--law and legislation--united states--Popular
works. 2. dispute resolution (law)--united states--Popular works. 3. special
education--Parent participation--united states--Popular works. i. title.

Kf4209.3.Z9s57 2007
371.90973--dc22
2006047129
Copyright © 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 by lawrence siegel. all rights rEsErvEd. PrintEd in thE usa.
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for information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the special sales department. for academic sales or textbook
adoptions, ask for academic sales. Call 800-955-4775 or write to nolo, 950 Parker street, berkeley, Ca 94710.
Dedication
to the memory of becky luftig, my first client and a remarkable young woman, for whom
“disability” was an attitude and nothing more
to my parents, and
to my wife gail, for that first day on the wheeler steps, and ever since, her joyous smile.
Acknowledgments
my appreciation to the entire nolo staff which, to a person, has always been professional
and friendly and never seemed to feel those two concepts were incompatible.
special thanks to marcia stewart for her superb editing, her patience as we worked
through and wrote about the complexities of the iEP process, and her clear goal of making
the iEP process friendly to and useful for families of children with disabilities.
thanks also to:
Jake warner, nolo’s founder, for his enthusiasm about the project; and terri hearsh, for her
terrific design work.
thanks also to my colleagues and friends on the California advisory Commission on
special Education.

Table of Contents
1 Introduction to Special Education
What Is Special Education? ...............................................................................2
Being Your Child’s Advocate .............................................................................3
New Rules for Special Education ......................................................................4
Using This Book ................................................................................................4
Icons Used Throughout This Book .....................................................................6
Getting Help From Others ................................................................................6
2 Overview of Special Education Law
and the IEP
IDEA and State Special Education Laws ............................................................9
What IDEA Requires .........................................................................................9
Individualized Education Program ..................................................................19
Working With Your School District..................................................................23
Some Overriding IEP Principles ......................................................................25
3 Getting Started: Tips for All Parents
First Steps .......................................................................................................29
Obtain Your Child’s School Records ................................................................31
4 Getting Organized
Start an IEP Binder ..........................................................................................40
The Yearly IEP Cycle .......................................................................................45
Sample Year in the Life of Your Child’s IEP .......................................................46
Keep a Monthly Calendar ..............................................................................48
Track Your Child’s Progress .............................................................................48