Getting Your Child the Right Support
In many cases, parents become aware of their children’s special needs after schooling begins. Your child’s needs may be addressed properly by the school, or you may have to fight for what’s right. Getting your child’s needs correctly assessed is an important step in the educational process.
Your Right to a Free Evaluation for Your Child
You’re not on your own when it comes to proving your child needs special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to provide free evaluations to children who may need them. The Act requires schools to complete the evaluation within 60 days of when it’s requested.
As soon as you begin to suspect that your child might need additional help, you need to have that assessment done. Unfortunately, the school may not make it easy to get the assessment.
The School District Is Not on Your Side
It’s important to remember that your child’s educational needs are more important to you than they are to the school district. To the district, special education is an expense. It’s not unusual to have a school district refuse to conduct the required evaluation. To them, ignorance of your child’s needs saves them money.
It’s up to you to push the issue. You need to force the school to do what’s right for your child. The sooner you’re aware of your child’s needs, the better. A child whose special education needs are not being met is more likely to fall behind. The negative consequences of that can be mitigated or avoided by intervening quickly.
Special Needs Students and School Discipline
Unmet educational needs can have another negative impact. In addition to falling behind, children with special needs often experience disciplinary problems. Your child may be punished for behaviors that a proper assessment would identify.
The IDEA requires schools to provide students a free and appropriate public education that occurs within the least restrictive environment. These requirements impact the type and nature of discipline schools can impose on students with special needs.
Without these protections in place, your child may end up in a revolving door of discipline with school officials. With the right support, your child may avoid or reduce the behavioral problems that can make school so challenging.
Contact Us to Protect Your Child’s Educational Needs
The best-case scenario is to get your child the support and resources mandated by law before problems arise. If the school has already begun disciplinary proceedings against your child, you need to act quickly.
At The Fell Law Firm, we can help you force the school district to uphold its duty to your child. Call our skilled attorneys at 469-765-3304 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.