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A myriad of complex federal and state laws make the provision of special education services to eligible students one of the most difficult areas of legal compliance for public school districts. To successfully navigate the unique legal demands of special education, school districts must not only be familiar with the law itself, but also take proactive steps to educate all staff on the intricacies of providing appropriate special education programs, or otherwise risk significant liability exposure. We pride ourselves in being one of the preeminent authorities on special education law in Pennsylvania, and assist clients in effectively understanding and complying with the complexities of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its recent Reauthorization, Section 504, and all other federal and state special education laws. In addition to representing and advising school districts in all phases of special education proceedings, including due process hearings and appeals, SSKW also emphasizes and provides in-services on a multitude of special education topics to help school districts recognize and avoid potential legal problems before they occur.

 

 

Pa. Supreme Court Upholds Provision of Section 504 Services  (10/24/07)

Independent Evaluations Under Schaffer v. Weast  (10/11/07)

Are Compensatory Damages Appropriate Under the IDEA?  (9/13/07)

Supreme Court Holds That Parents Do Not Require Representation in Federal Court for IDEA Claims  (7/10/07)

Section 1983 Damages No Longer Available to IDEA Violations  (6/19/07)

Independent Educational Evaluations - Basics All Districts Need to Know  (6/19/07)

Modified Academic Achievement Standards for AYP  (5/22/07)

Causality is Key in Conducting Manifestation Determinations  (5/18/07)

Schaffer v. Weast: Is the Supreme Court's Decision Applicable to DPH Involving Gifted Students?  (2/26/07)

Section 504 Discrimination Claims Extend to Nonacademic Programs & Services  (2/2/07)

The Different Standards of Appellate Review in IDEA Cases (1/16/07)

Q&A: IEPs for Transfer Students (1/3/07)

Initial Evaluations Under the IDEA - Common Questions & Answers for School Districts (11/17/06)

Changing Students' Placements to a More Restrictive Setting in a Post Gaskins Environment (10/27/06)

A New Approach to Calculating Compensatory Education (10/9/06)

Sample Policy: Medical Excusal & Homebound Instruction (9/27/06)

Supreme Court Determines that IDEA Prevailing Party Fees Do NOT Include Expert Costs (9/25/06)

Striking a Blow to LRE & School District Discretion in Choice of Methodology (9/25/06)

Sample Policy: Independent Education Evaluations (9/20/06)

IEP Meetings Under the Final Regulations (9/1/06)

Home-Schooled Children Can Participate in District Extra-Curricular Activities (8/11/06)

Special Education Students Allowed to Participate in Graduation Ceremony (5/12/06)

Parental Refusal to Consent to Initial Special Ed Placement (1/6/06)

Circumstances Warranting Expedited Due Process Hearings Under the IDEA

Expulsion & the Special Education Student

Fulfilling Child Find Requirements Under the IDEA

Policies -- Conditions for Allowing Tape Recording in an IEP

Forms -- IDEA Notice for School Calendars and Handbooks*

Guidelines -- Requests for Evaluations for Admission to College Programs or for SSI Benefits

Tape Recording of IEP Conferences

Instruction in the Home vs. Homebound Instruction

Student Assessment Under PSSA and PASA

Bus Suspensions and Special Education Students (7/12/02)

Update on PASA Student Assessment Under NCLB (2/21/03)

Age of Majority in Pennsylvania – How are Eligible Students Affected? (6/16/03)

Private School Students' Right to IDEA Services (6/20/03)

PDE Issues New ESY Guidance (7/30/03)

The IDEA's disciplinary removal protections do not apply to a student
who is excluded from school because of head lice
(6/9/04)