...end of the school year already??

I can't believe it!! The end of this year school year is almost here! How did it get to be the first day back from Spring Break already? Did you have your ESY IEP or interim IEP to make sure everything is going well for your child before this school comes to a close? Do you need to follow up on some things? Do you need to do some classroom observations or view your child's school files before this school year is over with? Haven't ever done anything like that before? Maybe it's time to do something new or for the first time this school year before the school year ends. Yes it can feel uncomfortable to do things we don't do everyday, but if it's to help you understand your Child's school day, classes or the entire educational environment and all the options available to your Child to help him or her to be successful, then it's worth it!

As a parent raising a Child that requires a constant more vigilent monitoring of their educational set up, it's important as a parent to keep an eye on several things that have to do with making sure you have made the right decisions pertaining to special education supports and services for your Child. Are you clear in knowing how things are really going at school? Do you need to look at records or do an observation during a particular time of the school day? Anything you may have a concern about...now is the time to start setting up those types of appointments...before the school year comes to a close.

The IEP to decide if your son or daughter will be attending or taking ESY (Extended School Year) should have been done before April 1st. Do you completely understand exactly what ESY is and what it's all about? It doesn't always have to be a 'brick n mortar' school, it can be as simple as a home packet or a computer program. It's all part of the INDIVIDUALIZED Education document.

Plan ahead and use the time that is left of this school year wisely. Set up your appointments to observe, or view records or have that interim IEP you have been putting off. Your Child needs you...to speak up on their behalf. Learn all you can about your Child's school, about their programs and teachers and how things are going and how things can be better for next school year. Start thinking about next year NOW! If things didn't turn out as you thought they would this school year, now is the time to start thinking about how things need to be for next year.

Homework: Read your PROCEEDURAL SAFEGUARDS - know what this important document says!