2017: The Year in Review for Special Education
Happy New Year everyone! Looking back, Special Education has been in the news a lot over the past twelve months; particularly here in...
Endrew F. Decision Eliminates "Merely more than De Minimis" Standard
In an 8-0 decision handed down this morning, the Supreme Court struck down the Tenth Circuit's application of the "merely more than de...
The "Mess" in Texas Special Education Part 2: Where Are We Now?
Thanks to some poor decisions at both the state and local level, students with disabilities in Texas find themselves under-identified,...
The "Mess" in Texas Special Education Part 1: How Did We Get Here?
Last week, representatives from the US DOE's Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Texas Education...
High School and ADHD: A Toxic Relationship
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology found that, compared to their non-ADHD peers, high school students...
Reviewing the FIE: A Crash Course in Assessments, Acronyms and the Bell Curve
The Full and Individual Evaluation (FIE) report is arguably the most important element in the Special Education process. It is central to...
The 411 on the IEP
I'm sure you are familiar with the old parental lament, "If only kids came with an instruction manual!" Wishful thinking, right? Or is...
Parent Advocate: Checking YOUR Baggage at the Door
When we first become parents, we cannot help but reflect on our own childhood. It is, after all, our only real frame of reference. We...
Who's In Charge Here? Looking Behind the Curtain in Special Education Matters
Let's say you have a daughter named Dorothy. Dorothy is (ahem) 9 years old and has recently been evaluated for special education and...
The Theory of Eligibility or E = Qualifying Disability + Educational Need²(?)
In order to better explain the Special Education eligibility evaluation and determination process, I thought it best to break things down...
