What Every Parent & Advocate Needs to Know

It’s that time of year again. New backpacks, sharpened pencils, fresh sneakers — and for families navigating special education, it’s also the season of new teachers, new case managers, and sometimes the same old confusion.

Let me say this clearly: you cannot afford to walk into this school year unprepared.

1. Everyone Needs the Full IEP

If your child has an IEP, every single teacher who works with them — including art, PE, and electives — needs the entire document, not just a one-pager. A “summary” won’t cut it. Instructional goals, accommodations, modifications, and related services must be known and implemented by every educator at that table.

2. Build the “Zach Pack

I call it a Zach Pack:

• One-page overview of your child (with a photo)
• Contact information for you
• A printed copy of the full IEP

Hand this to each teacher before the first week gets too far along. It’s proactive, it’s clear, and it sets the expectation that you are watching and tracking.

3. Pay Attention to the IEP Sections That Get Ignored

Most parents glance past these four sections — but they can change everything:

• Language needs
• Communication needs
• Physical needs
• Assistive technology

If those boxes aren’t thoughtfully completed, the school is skating by. Push for specifics. Push for data. Don’t let “we’ll see what happens” be the plan.

4. Assistive Tech Is Not Optional

The law is clear: if your child needs assistive technology, the district must provide it. Period. Don’t let phrases like “multimodal communicator” become loopholes that excuse real instruction and real tools.

5. Document Everything

This is the year you start with systems in place. Keep a log of services, absences, and communications. When schools know you’re tracking, implementation rates skyrocket.

Back-to-School FAQs for Parents & Advocates

Do elective teachers have to follow the IEP?
Yes. Every teacher — whether it’s art, music, PE, or a core subject — is legally responsible for implementing the accommodations, modifications, and supports in your child’s IEP.

What if the school says they don’t have time to read the full IEP?
That’s not optional. The IEP is a binding document under IDEA. If they can’t “find the time,” they are out of compliance. Hand-deliver copies and get written confirmation that each teacher received it.

Can I ask for an IEP meeting right at the start of school?
Absolutely. If you see red flags (services not starting, accommodations ignored, assistive tech missing), you don’t need to wait. Put the request in writing and keep a copy for your records.

Back-to-School Mindset:
You are not here to make friends. You are here to secure services, instruction, and outcomes for your child. Stay firm. Stay calm. Stay prepared.

Want deeper training on exactly how to do this? Join The Academy, where we break down every page of the IEP and every safeguard under IDEA. You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to.

Join The Academy Here

“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham