Education

On an IEP team, you are the person who will consistently advocate for your child with a long-term plan in mind, but IEPs are written one year at a time, and other team members change year to year. Join the Parent Alliance’s IEP Bootcamp, where you’ll learn how to look at each piece of the IEP individually. You’ll gather information about how your child’s challenges affect their whole life, especially their mental wellness, and consider how their goals are working outside of the classroom. Remember, you’re an expert in your child!

Do you know how many days a school has to complete an evaluation? Or agree to an evaluation? Here's the list of timelines all schools in PA must follow.

Here's some basic information about IEPs and 504 plans to help you understand the differences of each.

Parents often underestimate the importance of evaluations, but this can be a big mistake. This 6-minute video explains how you can make sure you understand what tests are being suggested and how you can make sure your concerns are addressed.

This 5-part series of videos between 4 and12 minutes takes you through the entire IEP process. Easy-to-understand guidance for families addresses topics like who is on an IEP team (chapter 2), what's included in the IEP (chapter 3), getting ready for your IEP meeting (chapter 4), and the IEP meeting itself (chapter 5).

The topic of this 10-minute video is about special education services under the category of 'emotional disturbance' -- a designation that many people don't even KNOW qualifies for special education services. *Note that PA's guidelines for evaluation, once consent has been given are 60 calendar days, not including summer break.*

Written by PA's Education Law Center, this guide to special education services in PA tells you everything you need to know about getting and managing special education services in simple and easy-to-understand language.

Here is an excellent video series that provides a step-by-step guide to the entire IEP process. Each video ranging between 4 and 12 minutes can be watched on its own to help you prepare for a meeting, or the entire series can be watched at once so you know what to expect.

Can your child qualify for special education services because they have an emotional disturbance? This 3-minute video gives you the information you need to answer that question.

This 45-minute video discusses in clear and easy-to-understand language what families need to know about mental health and special education services. Can your child qualify for an IEP? What's the difference between an IEP and 504 plan? and so much more! *This video discusses educational rights for children in psychiatric hospitals and RTFs.

F.A.T. stands for Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension—and that's exactly what the workshop participants will experience! This workshop video provides teachers, parents, caregivers, and siblings with the opportunity to actually experience the emotions and stresses that children with learning disabilities face daily. By using simulations and contrived activities as models (for example, telling a story without using any words that contain the letter N), the participants temporarily experience the frustration, anxiety, and tension that is the lifestyle of students with special needs.

There's a lot to know about IEP's and how they can help your child. Understood.org nationally recognized experts will get you started on the right track.