Special Education

The suggestions below are practical advice, not requirements. ESS and Dispute Resolution staff have collaborated to share their ideas about how to develop, nurture and maintain good relationships with parents, how to make the IEP process smoother and more understandable, and how to help build a culture of ongoing compliance along the way.

Practical Suggestions: IEP

Practical Suggestions: Instruction

Include the Date

Often the prior written notice (PWN) form will have a date at the top when it is provided to the parent, but the date of the decision referenced in the PWN is often not included, leading to possible confusion.

Suggestion: Include in the wording of the PWN the date of the meeting when the decision to propose or refuse the action actually occurred, as the date when the PWN was written is not always the same as the date of the meeting when the decision took place.

It’s Not Jumping through Hoops

When reduced to basics, the IEP is a communication tool used so that everyone understands what is expected will happen. School personnel often fall into noncompliance because they view the regulatory requirements as administrative hoops to jump through rather than important steps to follow to ensure clear communication and a shared understanding. When school personnel view the regulations as an impediment or a bureaucratic imperative only, the result is often a frayed relationship with parents and noncompliance can result.

Special Education can be confusing. Here are several links to topics you might find useful as you journey to learn more about how special education works.

Click on the links below to access useful information and guidance regarding the regulations that implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), corresponding Arizona State Board of Education rules, guidance from the US Department of Education/Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), and case law involving special education.

504 Accommodation Plans