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The Epic Battle of IEP vs. 504

Parents often ask me whether they should push for a 504 Plan or an IEP (Individualized Education Program).  The answer is, as you may have guessed -- It depends.  To answer this question, we must understand what exactly are 504 Plans and IEPs. …
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A Profile of Special Education in New York, by the Numbers

The U.S. Department of Education just released its Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  It's a good time to look at the state of school age children being served by the…

What’s In A Name? The Mysteries of IEP Classification

Parents frequently ask me about the Disability Classification on their children's IEPs. This is usually found at the top of the first page. They ask whether it matters what their child is classified under. Before addressing this issue, we need…
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“Sorry, your child doesn’t qualify for services because her scores are too high”

Have you heard this before? Remember, the IEP starts with THE evaluation. You can't develop goals for the student until you identify her strengths and weaknesses. And you can't do that without a comprehensive evaluation. Parents frequently…

ADHD Guidance for Special Education

On July 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") issued guidance clarifying the obligation of schools to provide students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") with equal educational opportunity…