Nolo's IEP guide : learning disabilities

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Your Legal Companion for IEPs
1: Introduction to Special Education
	What Is Special Education?
	What Is an IEP?
	Being Your Child’s Advocate
	Getting Help From Others
2: Your Child’s Rights Under the IDEA
	Learning Disabilities
	The IDEA and State Special Education Laws
	What the IDEA Requires
	Individualized Education Program
	Working With Your School District
3: What Is a Learning Disability?
	Legal Definitions
	Scientific and Professional Definitions
	Does Your Child Have a Learning Disability?
	Signs of a Learning Disability
	Learning Disabilities and the IEP Process
	Harassment
4: Getting Started
	First Steps
	Obtain Your Child’s School Records
	Start an IEP Binder
	Keep Track of Deadlines
5: Developing Your Child’s IEP Blueprint
	Begin at the End: Define Your Child’s Needs
	Preparing an IEP Blueprint
	Other Sources of Information for the Blueprint
	What’s Next?
6: Evaluations
	When Evaluations Are Done
	The Evaluation Plan
	Analyzing the Tests
	Approving, Rejecting, or Changing the Evaluation Plan
	Reviewing the Report
	Reevaluations
	Final Evaluations
7: Eligibility
	Eligibility Requirements: Generally
	Eligibility Standards for Children With Learning Disabilities
	Preparing for the IEP Eligibility Meeting
	Attending the Eligibility Meeting
	Joint IEP Eligibility/Program Meeting
	If Your Child Is Not Found Eligible for Special Education
8: Gathering Information and Evidence
	Analyze the School District’s Information
	Chart Your Child’s Progress
	Explore Available School Programs
	Find Out About Related Services
	Compare Your Blueprint With the Existing Program and Services
	Generate Additional Supporting Information
	Independent Evaluations
9: Goals
	Skill Areas Covered by Goals
	Developing Goals
	When to Draft Goals
	Writing Effective Goals
10: Preparing for the IEP Meeting
	Schedule the IEP Meeting
	The IEP Meeting Agenda
	Organize Your Materials
	Draft Your Child’s IEP Program
	Establish Who Will Attend the IEP Meeting
	Final Preparation
11: The IEP Meeting
	Getting Started
	Simple Rules for a Successful IEP Meeting
	Become Familiar With Your School’s IEP Form
	Writing the IEP Plan
	Sign the IEP Document
	Parent Addendum Page
12: Resolving IEP Disputes Through Due Process
	Timeline for Requesting Due Process
	When You Can Go Straight to Court Instead of a Due Process Hearing
	Before Due Process: Informal Negotiations
	Typical Due Process Disputes
	When to Pursue Due Process
	Who Can File? 
	Your Child’s Status During Due Process
	Using a Lawyer During Due Process
	How to Begin Due Process
	Prepare for Due Process
	Mediation Specifics
	Due Process Hearing
	Hearing Decision and Appeals
13: Filing a Complaint
	When to File a Complaint
	Where to File a Complaint
	What to Include in a Complaint
	What Happens When You File a Complaint
14: Lawyers and Legal Research
	How a Lawyer Can Help
	Do You Need a Lawyer?
	Finding an Attorney
	How Attorneys Are Paid
	Resolving Problems With a Lawyer
	Doing Your Own Legal Research
	Online Legal Research
15: Parent Organizations
	Join a Parent Organization
	Form a Parent Organization
16: How to Use the Companion Page on Nolo.com
	Using the Forms From the Companion Page
	Editing RTFs
	List of Forms
Index
Book Registration
Additional Special Education Resources at Nolo.com