A myriad of complex federal and state laws make providing special education services to eligible students one of the most difficult areas of legal compliance for public school districts and entities.
To successfully navigate these demands, those districts and entities must be familiar with the laws and educate all staff on the intricacies of providing such programs. Neglecting either opens the district or entity to significant liability exposure.
We pride ourselves in being one of the preeminent authorities on special education law in Pennsylvania, guiding clients who come to us regularly with questions including:
- How do we discern whether a child qualifies for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
- How can we effectively draft a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), accurately and effectively reflecting their present levels of achievement, specially-designed instruction and future goals?
- We have received a request for an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense. Can we use our last evaluation (or reevaluation) on file?
- A parent has indicated that he/she wants to proceed to a due process hearing regarding their child. What do I do now?
- A parent wants to change his/her child’s special education program. How should I respond?
- A parent has requested that we place his/her child in a private school. What should I do now?
Not only do we respond and counsel schools on the above questions on a day-to-day basis, but we proactively provide in-service trainings to teachers and staff on these very issues, so districts and entities can recognize and avoid potential legal problems before they occur.
Additionally, our Pool Counsel service provides a cost-effective way to receive ongoing feedback on general legal issues.
To learn more about our work in this area, contact us today.