There is no denying that IEP meetings can be overwhelming and oftentimes, you go into them unprepared and leave feeling exhausted. However, this does not have to be the case. Below, I will list some tips that will help you get the most out of your child’s IEP meeting and ensure that you are able…
Tag: parents
Parents: Three Steps to Take to Minimize the Impact of the Columbus City Schools Labor Strike on Your Children
Parents: Three Steps to Take to Minimize the Impact of the Columbus City Schools Labor Strike on Your Children On Sunday, August 21, 2022, the members of the Columbus Education Association (“CEA”) voted overwhelmingly to go on strike, the first in the district since 1975. Classes are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 24. The…
HELP! I need to call a lawyer.
5 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting an Attorney Understand Your Deadlines & Call as Soon as You Have Them If you only need to respond with your intent to appeal, do so as soon as possible to start the process. For K12 items, this can generally be done via email to your child’s…
ESY (Extended School Year) Services Denied by School?
What do you do when the school district denies your child with a disability extended school year (ESY) services?
Relief Has Been Denied in Most Anti-Masking Lawsuits Against Schools
Mark Weiker, Esq., Albeit Weiker, LLP Over the last two years, Ohio school boards have become a lightning rod for citizens to unload their personal and political thoughts on almost everything pandemic related. From virtual learning to masking to quarantining, school boards have absorbed the diverse and sometimes raucous opinions of their constituents. Outcomes in…
Public schools with “mask optional” policies risk losing immunity.
A. The Choice Boards of education in Ohio have been placed in a tough position to start the school year. Boards have been forced to choose whether to require masks for their students and employees. Schools were placed in this position because the state legislature effectively removed the power of the Governor and the…
Updates on State Testing for Spring 2021: Ohio School Law
Does my child have to participate in spring testing? We can all agree that 2020 was a year like we have never experienced before. The educational institutions tried their best to accommodate the changing situation and help support students the best that they could. One of those ways was to forgo the traditional state testing…
Can I Leave Work to Attend an IEP Meeting?
FMLA LEAVE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS TO ATTEND IEP MEETINGS On August 8, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (“the DOL”) issued guidance on whether an employee may take protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) to attend a meeting to discuss the Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) of the employee’s son or daughter. U.S. Dept. of Labor, WHD, FMLA 2019-2-A(August 8,…
K-12 Students: 3 Things To Do If You (Or Your Child) Are Suspended or Expelled from School
Written by Mark Weiker, Esq. from Albeit Weiker, LLP; education law attorney focused on student rights & father of two. Unfortunately, it remains the norm for primary and secondary schools throughout the country to use suspension and expulsion as a remedy for bad behavior, despite almost no evidence that removing students from the educational environment…
A Teacher’s Guide to Beating First Week Jitters
It’s about that time of year again. The time when the specialty sections of Kroger and Target are stocked with rainbow bins, cartoon backpacks, and discount Crayolas. The time when you frantically fill your calendar with shopping trips, haircuts, and last minute summer fun. That’s right–it’s back to school season! The bittersweet ending of summer…
Talking to Children About Terrorism
Written by Danielle Randolph, School Psychologist & AW’s newest Student Advocate In today’s world, parents are faced with the challenge of explaining violence, terrorism and war to children. Although difficult, these conversations are extremely important. They give parents an opportunity to help their children feel more secure and understand the world in which they live….
E+R=O: A Special Education Mindset
E + R = O: A Special Education Mindset Fighting for an individualized and appropriate education Let’s imagine you are not receiving progress reports on your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). You have that parental instinct that something isn’t right. How do you stand up to district administrators, who are specifically trained in the field…