www.deafchildren.org
ings if need be. 6. You can ask the school district to include specific service providers, including private service providers, as part of the IEP team. If someone is working with your child as an outside provider, regardless of who is paying the bill, that provider’s information related to your child can be included. For example, if your insurance is paying for your child to see a counselor, the psychotherapist can be invited to attended, provide documents in the form of a formal letter or report, or join the IEP meeting via phone conference. 7. You can obtain an independent assessment. Under certain circumstances, the school distract must pay for an independent assessment. In today’s economy, the option of paying for an outside assessment is difficult for most. However, it might benefit some parents to do so. If you are sure that your child qualifies for a specific service but the district assessment says there are no substantial findings, parents can pay out-of-pocket for an assessment. With your independent assessment report in hand, parents can present this to the IEP team to resolve discrepancies and possibly seek reimburse-
ment. If the school district does not have an appropriate specialist to perform an assessment on your child, the district must pay for an independent assessment. If the district does have a qualified person to assess your child, but that person is out on sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, etc., that does not exempt the school district from its timely obligation. Again, parents can ask for outside assessments. 8. The school district must give you written notice of the purpose of the meeting. Districts must always inform parents of what is happening with their child when a meeting is called. If, for example, the school district would like to modify, change or eliminate a child’s IEP during a meeting, the school district must notify the parents prior to a meeting. Parents should never show up to a meeting without understanding the purpose of a meeting. 9. School districts must give you written notice if it intends to change any of the child’s programs or services. School districts are obligated under the law to inform parents of any and all changes, big or small, that affect the child, in writing. Calling parents and leaving a message stating that the students ASL teacher is being 35