Special Education Checklist for Parents

According to IDEA, Special Education is “specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability,” which includes everything from making classroom adaptations to off campus travel training, and everything in between.

Parents need to be aware of some of the hallmarks of special education so that they can evaluate if what their child is receiving what they should.

__ Is data readily available for your review to ensure progress is being made in all areas addressed through your child’s IEP?

__ Is there a means of communication between parent and school that provides information pertinent to your concerns for your child?

__ Is curriculum provided to meet your child’s unique needs, while taking into consideration their academic strengths and age?

__ Are the ages of the students in your child’s special education class or group close to their own?

__ Is the physical space of the special education classroom adequate for children who are the same age as your child? Would students who don’t have disabilities be educated in the same type of space?

__ Are the needs of the other students in his learning group similar to his own? Or is he the shining star of the group with little access to positive role models?

 __ Does your child have access to typical peers during all or a portion of her day?

__ Is the curriculum individually focused or is your child given the curriculum that the school has at hand? How much “screentime” is your child getting while at school?

__ What is the student to teacher/adult ratio of the special education classroom?

__ Have all of the staff members working with your child been trained in teaching strategies to meet their needs and is any special training needed written into the Supports for School Personnel section of his IEP?

__ Does your child receive daily instruction related to enhancing their ability to communicate?

__ Does your child receive, or have you been informed, about related services such as Counseling and Occupation Therapy; and additional services such, as those related to Transition?

__ Are there classroom supplies conducive to educating the students and are the supplies age appropriate?

__ For children who have behavioral challenges that impact their ability to be successfully included in a regular education classroom, is there a behavior plan in place?

This list is certainly not all-inclusive, but it will get you started down the road to evaluating if what your child is receiving in school truly is “special” education.

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Good luck advocating!

Stacey