Options


If you disagree with the IEP that your school is proposing, these are your options:

1. Go along with what they're proposing anyway.

2. Go to case conferences/IEP meetings as many times as it takes to convince them you are correct and get them to cave in.

3. Go to case conference, reach impasse, and ask for a mediation.

4. Go to case conference, reach impasse, and ask for a due process hearing. (With this option, you can also request a mediation after that and having a DP hearing hanging over their heads tends to make everyone a bit more "reasonable" and willing to work things out. Also, most cases DO settle, rather than going to hearing, so filing for hearing doesn't mean you're actually going to GO to a hearing.) Parents have a higher likelihood of getting what they want when there is a hearing pending.

5. Remove your child from school and put her in a private placement at your own expense. If you decide to do this option, you MUST MUST MUST give the school at least 10 business days' written notice in advance of taking her out of the public school if you plan to seek reimbursement from them later for the cost of the private school. If you are going to seek reimbursement, you likely will face a two-year statute of limitations, so you cannot wait 10 years and then go back and sue them for reimbursement.

6. Move your family home to a different public school district and have a fresh start.

Top of Page