As we all gear up for the start of school, just a reminder to everyone that IEPs should be implemented starting on the first day (and certainly the first week) of school. By that I simply mean that all the scheduling issues, logistics, etc. that are a necessary part of building wide implementation of IEPs should be worked out before school starts, not during the first week of school. Sometimes schools or even districts will tell parents that the first week is being spent working out schedules, particularly for related services like OT or speech therapy. But this should not happen in a way that takes instructional time away from special education students.
Yes, it's very challenging for schools to line everything up prior to the first day, but at the same time, imagine the outcry from parents if all the math classes in any school or grade level were postponed the first week because of logistics or scheduling challenges. Math is no different from any of the services and instructional time our kids need, and should be treated the same way and with the same urgency.
Please know of course many schools and districts work very hard to ensure learning starts from Day One of school - this isn't a blanket criticism - it's just something I share in various forums every September now that I'm in my 15th (gulp!) year of IEPs for my son.
Good luck everyone!!!
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Beth Sigall is the founder of Eastside Education Network and a seasoned special education attorney from Redmond, WA.