10 Tips: How to Use IDEA 2004 to
Improve Your Child's Special Education
by Wayne Steedman, Esq.
 

On July 1, 2005, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) went into effect.

In 10 Tips: How to Use IDEA 2004 to Improve Your Child's Special Education, you will learn how to use IDEA 2004 and the No Child Left Behind Act to ensure that the needs of children with disabilities are met, while also improving educational outcomes and results.

1. Use the Findings and Purposes in IDEA 2004 to Establish a Higher Standard for a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
2. Use IDEA 2004 and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to Obtain a Better Individualized Education Program (IEP).
3. Include Research Based Methodology in the IEP.
4. Ensure That Annual Goals are Comprehensive, Specific and Measurable.
5. Use New Evaluation Procedures to Monitor Academic Progress and Progress on IEP Goals.
6. Give Consent Only for Evaluations or Portions of the IEP to Which You Agree.
7. Insist that the Child’s Regular Education Teacher(s) Participate in IEP Meetings.
8. Avoid Three-Year IEPs Like the Plague.
9. Challenge Suspension or Expulsion if Child’s Behavior was a Manifestation of the Disability, or if the Alternate Placement Does Not Provide FAPE.
10. Avoid Due Process Hearings if Possible.