Summer flew by!

And just like that, summer is over! As the school year starts many parents are feeling hopeful and excited for their students to be back in the classroom!

For special education students this can be very stressful, for both parents and students. Whether because last year was not as great as you wanted it to be or because your student is nervous about what the year will bring. As you start the new year, here are some ways to make sure your student has the best year yet! 

• Contact your team. Let the teachers know you are involved and you want to work with them to help your student. This applies even if your student doesn’t currently have an IEP, GIEP or SECTION 504 plan. Let them know what works for your child and maybe what kinds of things might upset them or might be difficult. This lets them know how to contact you and starts the relationship positively with the team who sees your kid more than you do during the school year. Open, positive communication is fundamental to building a good relationship with your students' school team. 

  
  

• Review your documents. Know what the program and schedule should look like based on your student's needs. Ensure that all supports were transferred from year to year and building to building, transitioning to different buildings can be a key time where supports change that we might not notice right away.

  If you think the district needs to make changes, ask for a meeting. You do not have to wait for your yearly IEP to meet with your team or ask for changes.

  • Were there changes at the end of the year in preparation for the new year? Or were there changes due to a need in the spring that you need to ensure are still in place?

  • Did anything happen over the summer which would require changes to the plan now? Think new testing/diagnosis/medical condition. Your school can't best support your student if they don't have all the information. Share this new information before the school year starts.

  • Do you need a new evaluation? If anything changed over the summer or if you don’t think last year ended well it might be necessary to request an evaluation. These take time to complete so it’s best to ask for it early so that it can be completed sooner in the year. 

    
    

• Watch for progress. You should get reports of progress for your IEP or GIEP every marking period, with your students report card. If you don’t get it, ask! Keep on top of the data, if you aren’t getting progress monitoring, you are unable to determine if the program is working.

• Celebrate any victory. We often get wrapped up in the churning of activities throughout the fall and into the holiday season. Watch for any small progress and celebrate it! Is your student happily going to school every day where last year they fought to go into the building? Are they turning in their work on time or using more communication skills? Encourage and support your student and celebrate where they are and where they will continue to go! Talk with your school team if you are unsure what the successes are, they will be happy to share positive feedback. 

  
  

If you don’t think your plan is working or if your team has been non-responsive to your requests, it might be time to ask for help! Our team is always available to provide support and determine your student's legal rights and build a plan that supports your student and your goals for them. Call today to request your FREE consultation.

The new school year is a new start. Here's to a great new year filled with little victories that create meaningful growth for your student!