What You Need When You're Preparing to Meet
- Before the Meeting: As a caregiver, you bring very important information to the IEP meeting. You know your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and all the little differences that make your child unique. Don't forget to place your child’s photo in the middle of table so everyone remembers who the meeting is about.
- IEP Guide: One of the most important parts of the special education process is creating a plan for your child’s education. This guide will provide information on commonly used terms, IEP eligibility, and what your rights are as a parent or guardian.
- Helpful Hints: Tips to follow before, during and after the IEP meeting. For parents and educators!
- Frequently Asked Questions: Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about IEP from how it is developed to what happens if you disagree with the evaluations.
- Parental Rights in Special Education: This is one of the most important reference guides you will have concerning your child’s special education. It was developed for you by the Department of Education, Office of Special Services in an effort to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date information regarding the IEP process.
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Facilitated Individualized Education Program (FIEP): Parents and districts have access to a new program offered by the Department called facilitated IEP. It has two main purposes, as follows: (1) To promote student-centered IEP meetings that are conducted in a respectful and collaborative manner and (2) to maximize district-level capacity to develop student-centered IEPs and minimize state-level procedural protections and interventions which often result from ineffective IEP meetings.
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New Jersey Special Education Advocacy Guide: This self-advocacy guide assists caregivers and students with disabilities to navigate through the special education process.
- Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Children with Special Needs
- Special Education Overview: Courtesy of Hinkle, Fingles & Prior Attorneys at Law
- Changes to Your Child's Special Education Program: Courtesy of Hinkle, Fingles & Prior Attorneys at Law
- Transition Services: Helping Students Move From School to Adult Life - It is never too early to plan for your student's life after school.
- Transition Services: Your Resource Checklist
- The Arc of New Jersey's Planning for Adult Life Program
- Prepare Your Child for Age of Majority and Transfer of Rights
- Forms to Requesting Action From the NJ Department of Education (Found in the NJ Parental Rights in Special Education starting on page 31)
Accommodations & Modifications
Self-Determination/Self-Advocacy
Transition
Hosting Virtual IEP Meetings: Tips for Success
Links
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This video explains how students and their families can file complaints with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education. The OCR addresses complaints of discrimination based on race, color, national origin (Civil Rights Act of 1964), age (Age Discrimination Act of 1975), sex (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972), and disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the ADA). Note that the OCR does not address special education issues under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
