Empowering Students with Disabilities and Their Families with Expert Legal Advocacy Solutions
FALL IEP AUDIT
SECURE THE SCHOOL YEAR TODAY
Under federal law, students with disabilities have legally guaranteed rights to services, accommodations, and support. These federal mandates apply regardless of your school district's budget or what any administrator tells you.
Why the Start of the School Year Is the Most Important Time to Act
The weeks around the start of a new school year are when IEP services get confirmed, 504 accommodations get communicated to new teachers, and transition plans get reviewed. What doesn't get addressed in August and September often doesn't get addressed until the following year.
Districts are not required to proactively inform families of every right they hold. Accommodations that were in place last year may not carry over automatically. New teachers may not receive a student's plan at all. The burden of follow-through falls on parents more than most families realize.
Rights That Apply Regardless of What the School Tells You
- Your child is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under IDEA, which must meet their individual needs rather than the school's budget constraints.
- IEP goals must be measurable and meaningful. Vague goals that cannot be easily tracked are not legally sufficient, meaning parents have the right to push back.
- 504 accommodations must be actively communicated to every teacher responsible for that student. A plan left sitting on file is not the same as a plan in active use.
- Transition planning must begin by age 16 under federal law, or even earlier depending on state-specific guidelines. Students approaching graduation without a transition IEP are being underserved.
- If your child regresses during summer, Extended School Year (ESY) services may be a legal requirement rather than an optional program. Schools are rarely proactive in offering this information.
Special Education Planning Guides by Topic
Each guide covers a key area of special education law, written in clear language for families instead of attorneys. Use these resources to prepare for the school year ahead and make certain your child is fully supported.
New School Year IEP Checklist: What Every Parent Should Do Before the Meeting
A comprehensive planning checklist covering your rights, how to review last year's performance, what key questions to ask during the meeting, and how to properly document all agreed-upon changes.
New School Year 504 Plan Checklist: What to Confirm Before Day One
Accommodations under a 504 plan do not always carry over automatically to new classrooms. This guide covers what you need to confirm in writing and how to handle situations when services are not being active.
Planning for Graduating Students: A Grade-by-Grade Transition Roadmap
Families of students in grades 9 through 12 must take critical steps before graduation. Learn about post-secondary options, adult services intake, and the transition IEP requirements schools are legally obligated to meet.
Extended School Year (ESY) Services: Eligibility, How to Ask, and What to Do If the School Says No
ESY is a federally protected entitlement for students who regress without year-round services rather than an optional program offered at the school's discretion. This guide covers eligibility standards, IEP meetings, and your recourse if a request is denied.
The Gap Between What Families Are Owed and What They Receive
Most families navigating special education are doing so without a dedicated advocate and without a clear picture of what the school is required to provide. The results show up in IEP meetings, accommodation gaps, and missed transition timelines.
Of Students in the U.S. Receive Special Education Services
Under IDEA, each of these students is entitled to an individualized education program, but the quality and completeness of that program varies enormously by district.
When Transition Planning Must Begin Under Federal Law
Many districts miss this deadline or produce transition plans that do not meet legal requirements. Families often do not realize there is a gap until the student is close to graduation.
When Back-to-School Advocacy Needs to Start
Accommodations not confirmed before the first week of school are often not addressed until weeks later, if at all. The earlier families act, the less ground they have to recover.
When the School Isn't Following Through, We Step In
K Altman Law represents students and families in special education disputes, including IEP violations, accommodation failures, due process hearings, and transition planning conflicts. If the guides on this page describe a situation your family is already in, a consultation is the right next step.