PARENTAL RIGHTS -SIMPLIFIED

Parents are an important part of the special education process. It is important that you are aware of and understand that you have specific rights throughout the entire process. These rights are protected by federal laws, and include:

1. The right to attend all Planning and Placement Team meetings at which an educational program for your child is discussed, developed, or written.
2. The right to receive written notice of any Planning and Placement Team meetings held on your child.
3. The right to bring legal counsel or any other person (s) to the meeting with you.
4. The right to look at all records pertaining to your child.
5. The right to an independent evaluation by an appropriately certified and/or licensed examiner who is not employed by your child's school's Board of Education. The Planning and Placement Team will decide who is to pay for this "second opinion."
6. The right to disagree with the decisions made about your child. If you decide to appeal, you have additional "due process" rights. Your child's educational placement will not change until due process procedures are completed.
7. The right to refuse consent, and if consent is given, to revoke it at any time.
8. The right to an impartial hearing.
9. The right to have copies of the record of any Planning and Placement Team meeting, or evaluation report, on your child.
10. The right to have your rights explained to you.

THE PLANNING AND PLACEMENT TEAM

PARTICIPANTS

administration

pupil services

instruction

parent

student

other

FUNCTIONS

referral to special education

plan pre-placement evaluations

discuss completed evaluations

determine eligibility and placement

develop or revise Individualized Education Plan

develop or revise Individual Transition Plan

annual review

triennial review

dismissal from services

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PLANNING AND PLACEMENT MEETING

TEACHERS

Before the meeting date you will want to:

1. Check your student's educational file (s) in the main office.
2. Read any reports you may have received. Note parts that seem important to you as a child's teacher.
3. Make a list of questions you want to ask.
4. Make a list of your student's strengths and your areas of concern.
5. Be prepared to give a brief report on your student's level of functioning in the major academic areas, peer interactions and social-emotional behavior.
6. Think of the approaches you and his past teachers have tried: what worked and what didn't work.
7. Gather together work samples, anecdotal records, grade book, and similar materials so you can bring them to the meeting.
8. Try not to be nervous. Most Planning and Placement Teams are friendly, but they can be scary the first time.
9. Contact the person chairing the Planning and Placement Team (administrator or designee) if you are not sure why the meeting is being held.
10. If you cannot attend the meeting, be sure to contact the Planning and Placement Team chairperson immediately.
11. The PLANNING AND PLACEMENT TEAM meeting may need to be rescheduled.

PARENTS

Before the meeting date you will want to:

1. Talk with you child's teacher about any concerns.
2. Read any reports you may have received. Many parents like to bring them to the meetings, with important or confusing parts underlined.
3. Make a list of questions you want to ask. No question is unimportant: this is your child.
4. Make a list of your child's strengths and your areas of concern.
5. Think of the approaches you and his past teachers have tried: what worked and what didn't work.
6. If you have recent doctor's reports or other information, gather it together so you can bring them to the meeting.
7. If you are nervous, ask a friend or relative to come with you. Most Planning and Placement Teams are friendly, but can be scary the first time.
8. Call the school if you are not sure why the meeting is being held.
9. Call the school if you don't understand your "parents' rights" listed on he back of the Planning and Placement Team notice.
10. Relax, if you can. The people at school really want what you do too -- the best program for your child so he or she can succeed at school.

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