Practising Law Institute is hosting a virtual one-hour briefing entitled IDEA and School Advocacy: How to Effectively Advocate for a Child in Need of Specialized Instruction and Related Services on December 4, 2023 from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Eastern. 

Registration: $25

Education is one of the essential civil rights issues of our time. Many parents fear their children will be left behind and unable to compete without a proper education.  While disparities in education have always existed, they have only been magnified in recent years and the pandemic has severely set back those students who can least afford it, students with disabilities.

High quality legal representation is absolutely essential when school districts either fail to properly identify a student in need of specialized instruction or when school districts identify such students but simply don't provide the services that they need. Students must be able to obtain the specialized instruction and related services that they need and are entitled to pursuant to federal and local law. However, without an advocate, this is often impossible to achieve.

Registrants will learn the basics of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and why every parent or guardian of a student with a disability needs to know about it. Topics ranging from initial identification of a student in need of specialized instruction through to the creation of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be covered.  In addition, the following topics will be addressed:

• Specialized instruction, including sources of law, and the basics of a free and appropriate public education – 15 minutes
• Evaluations, including what is an evaluation, how should an evaluation be conducted, and how to challenge an evaluation – 15 minutes
• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) including what is an IEP, what should it contain, what are related services, and how to know if an IEP and related services are appropriate – 15 minutes
• IEP process and procedure, including who is on an IEP team, how an IEP meeting unfolds, procedural safeguards available to a parent, placement decisions and the stay put rule, how a parent can preserve the status quo until a hearing is held when a parent disagrees with a school system's action or its failure to take an action – 15 minutes

Who Should Attend: 

Legal aid and legal services advocates, nonprofit lawyers, pro bono attorneys and anyone who is concerned about today's students and the quality of education being provided to them. It is particularly important if you know of a student with a disability who may need assistance in obtaining an IEP or necessary services.

Faculty:

William B. Jaffe, Law Office of William B. Jaffe, P.L.L.C.