Questions, answered

You may benefit from an advocate if:

• Your child is struggling academically, behaviorally, or emotionally
• You disagree with the school's evaluation or services
• Your child's IEP goals are not being met
• Services are being reduced or denied
• You feel unheard or confused during school meetings

You do not have to wait for a crisis to seek support.

An advocate:

• Helps you understand evaluations, reports, and school documents
• Prepares you for IEP or 504 meetings
• Attends meetings with you (in person or virtually)
• Helps communicate concerns effectively with the school team
• Ensures your child's educational plan is appropriate and legally compliant

Advocates focus on collaboration first, while also protecting your child's rights.

You play a vital role in your child's education. You can:

• Keep records of evaluations, report cards, emails, and meeting notes
• Learn about your child's strengths, challenges, and learning style
• Ask questions and request clarification when you don't understand something
• Communicate concerns in writing when possible
• Trust your instincts — you know your child best

Being informed and organized helps you advocate effectively.

IDEA stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is a federal law that ensures eligible children with disabilities receive special education and related services tailored to their individual needs.

Under IDEA, children are entitled to:

• Free evaluations
• An Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Services designed to support educational progress

FAPE stands for Free Appropriate Public Education. It means that public schools must provide eligible students with disabilities an education that:

• Is provided at no cost to families
• Meets the child's unique needs
• Is based on appropriate evaluations
• Allows the child to make meaningful educational progress

FAPE is a core right protected under IDEA.

The IEP process follows specific timelines designed to protect your child's rights. While timelines may vary slightly by state, common federal timelines include:

• Evaluation: once you provide written consent, the school generally has 60 days to complete the evaluation (some states have shorter timelines).
• Eligibility: after evaluations are completed, a meeting must be held to determine whether your child qualifies for special education services.
• IEP development: if your child is found eligible, an IEP must typically be developed within 30 days of the eligibility determination.
• IEP implementation: services should begin as soon as possible after the IEP is finalized.
• IEP review: IEPs must be reviewed at least once a year — but you can request a meeting at any time if concerns arise.
• Reevaluation: must occur at least every three years, unless the team agrees it is unnecessary.

If timelines are missed or unclear, an educational advocate can help you follow up and ensure the school remains compliant.

I serve families across Charleston and the Lowcountry. For IEP meetings, I come with you to your child's school. We can also meet over Zoom, or at another convenient location for in-person meetings — whatever works best for your family.

Yes — a free 20-minute consultation to talk through your situation and see how I can help.

No. I'm an advocate and educator. If your situation calls for legal counsel, I can help you understand when to seek it.

The easiest first step is to book a free 20-minute consultation. We'll talk through what's going on, and I'll help you understand your options — whether that's working together or simply pointing you in the right direction.