Parents' Bill of Rights for Special Education

By: Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

Parents’ Bill of Rights

1- Parents with limited English skills have the right to an interpreter at individualized education plan (IEP) meetings. School officials have the responsibility to arrange for the interpreter.

2- Parents have the right to know what legal rights and responsibilities they have in their child’s IEP meeting. Federal law outlines their rights. School officials have the responsibility to explain these rights to parents.

3- Parents have the right to attend their child’s IEP meeting and represent their child’s interests. Parents have the right to attend any IEP meeting where an IEP team will: (a) evaluate their child’s educational needs, (b) determine the child’s educational progress, or (c) plan changes to the child’s educational program.

4- Parents have the right to meet with school officials whenever there is a change in their child’s educational program. School officials have the responsibility to hold parent-school meetings for any change — such as a change in placement or program.

5- Parents have the right to have their child learn in a general education class, to the greatest extent possible. School officials have the responsibility to find a general education class for the child. Any school official who says, "We don’t do inclusion here, you must find another school if you want to include your child in the general education classroom," is violating the law. It makes no difference whether the child is in preschool, grammar school, middle school, or high school.