Results
News > Education
Louisiana Just Advanced a Bill That Would Make Schools Prove They're Correctly Serving Your Child in Special Ed. Here's What Families Need to Know.
...process hearings are the formal legal mechanism parents use when they believe their child's school isn't providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) as required by federal law. These hearings function like courtroom proceedings, with evidence, witnesses, and legal arguments. In most states, parents...
Education > Special Education
New Hampshire Shifted the Due Process Burden to Schools in IEP Disputes. Is Your State Next?
...school district. Now, when a parent files for due process in New Hampshire, the district has to prove it provided a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Not the other way around. Louisiana's HB 342 passed the House Education Committee on April 9 and is heading to a full House vote. If it passes, Louisiana...
Education > Special Education
IEP Services Can't Be Cut by a Budget Crisis. Here's How to Hold Your School Accountable.
...reduces its legal obligation to provide FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)....here's what hasn't changed: IDEA's FAPE requirement. Every eligible student...services doesn't change that. What FAPE Guarantees and What It Doesn't Excuse....Guarantees and What It Doesn't Excuse. FAPE is defined at 34 CFR §300.17. It means...
Education > Other
Charter Schools and Special Education: Understanding Your Legal Rights
...Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under IDEA, charter schools must accept students with IEPs and 504 plans, provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE), and implement the services outlined in your child's plan. Capacity concerns don't create exceptions. Neither do staffing limitations or curriculum...
Special Needs > Learning Differences
IEP or 504: Which Plan Does Your Child with a Learning Difference Need?
...speech therapy or occupational therapy, and built-in progress monitoring. The school is legally required to offer a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), meaning the services must...
Education > K-12
FAPE and LRE Explained: A Parent's Guide to Your Child's Rights Under IDEA
...special education journey: FAPE and LRE. You'll see them...are required to provide. FAPE stands for Free Appropriate...for them. The key word in FAPE is not "free" or "public."...child's specific needs. What FAPE Means Legally. Appropriate...because many parents assume FAPE obligates schools to maximize...standard. A school can meet FAPE even if parents believe...
Global Insights > Advocacy
Beyond the IEP: Legal Rights Parents of Children with Disabilities Should Know
...of children with disabilities often become experts in IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They can cite IEP timelines, know what FAPE means, and understand procedural safeguards. But the legal framework doesn't stop at the school door. The Americans with Disabilities Act extends protections...
Education > Other
Charter Schools and Special Education: What Parents Need to Know
...requires every public school to accept students with disabilities and provide FAPE: a free appropriate public education. Charter schools can't legally reject...IEPs without discrimination Provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities Implement existing IEPs when a student transfers...
Social Engagement > Discrimination
Understanding Disability Discrimination: Your Rights and How to Take Action
...perceived disability. It shows up differently depending on the setting. In schools: Inaccessible facilities, denial of a free appropriate public education (FAPE), discriminatory discipline practices, refusal to provide required accommodations, or disability-based harassment. Disability discrimination complaints...
News > Education
IEP vs. 504 Plan: Which One Does Your Child Need and What's the Difference?
...Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This is federal special education law. It requires schools to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities who need specialized instruction to benefit from their education. 504 Plans are governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation...
News > Education
IEP 101: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Individualized Education Programs
...their education are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The IEP is the roadmap that makes FAPE a reality. The IEP process has four...and appropriate public education (FAPE). The IEP is the roadmap that makes FAPE a reality. The IEP process has four main components: Evaluation: determining...
Education > Special Education
IEP Rights When Your School Cuts Special Education Services
...not policy. It cannot be dismantled by staffing changes or budget cuts. IDEA guarantees your child the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment, and that right is enforceable. What has changed is the capacity for federal oversight. In October 2025, the U.S....