Your child is struggling in school but it can sometimes be difficult to determine if the school is providing the services and supports your child needs. The school personnel will tell you they are looking out for your child. But how can you be sure you are getting correct information? This is true whether your child has been receiving special education for several years, had just been provided an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or you have recently become concerned tha

Know your evaluation rights. With the schools closed since March due to COVID-19, parents have had to take on additional work educating their children. After a couple weeks of the schools being closed your school began to offer some form of distance learning for students. How much support was offered differed greatly throughout Arizona. Some schools may have provided robust support including some live lessons through Zoom or some other platforms. Some other districts and scho

With the school year ending in Arizona, you can help your child for the next school year right now. You and the school should have a good idea of how your child is doing with the school closure. The Department of Education has made it clear that schools are still required to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities during the school closures. (See prior blog post) If a school has not provided FAPE then the school will be required to con

Arizona allows parents of children with disabilities to set up Empowerment Scholarship Accounts or ESAs. These ESAs are funded with a portion of the state education funds earmarked for your child. Once funded, parents can use the money in the accounts to pay for tuition and other services for their child at private schools. Students who may qualify include children with disabilities whether they are receiving special education and related services as part of an Individualized