Resources | Be Kind Student Advocacy Group

Understanding Your Child's Rights

The law is on your side. Here's what you need to know about the protections your child has and what the school is required to provide.

What is FAPE? (Free Appropriate Public Education)

FAPE means your child has the right to a free, quality education that meets their unique needs—no matter what. This is guaranteed by federal law (IDEA). The school must provide special education services and support at no cost to you, and it must actually work for your child.

What This Means for You:

Your child's education plan must be designed specifically for them—not one-size-fits-all
Your child should learn alongside other students as much as possible (not isolated unless necessary)
You have the right to be involved in all decisions about your child's education

What's an IEP? (Individualized Education Program)

An IEP is a written plan that says exactly what special help your child will get at school. It's a legal document, which means the school has to follow it. If your child qualifies for special education, they must have an IEP.

What's in an IEP:

Where your child is right now (strengths and challenges)
Goals for what your child will learn this year
Services the school will provide (like extra reading help, speech therapy, counseling)
Accommodations (like extra time on tests, quiet room for work)
How your child will take state tests
Planning for after high school (starts around age 14)

What's a 504 Plan?

A 504 Plan is for kids who have a disability but don't need special education classes. They can do regular schoolwork, but they need some accommodations (like extra time or a quiet space). This plan makes sure your child can access the same education as everyone else.

How It's Different from an IEP:

504 Plans are about removing barriers and giving accommodations—not special teaching
More kids can qualify for a 504 than an IEP (broader definition of disability)
Easier process than IEP, but fewer protections
Examples: Extra time on tests, sitting near the front, breaks during class, using a laptop

The Laws That Protect Your Child

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act): This law guarantees your child gets a free, appropriate education and requires schools to create IEPs.

Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act): This law says schools can't discriminate against kids with disabilities and must provide accommodations.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): This law protects people with disabilities from discrimination everywhere, including schools.

Getting Ready for School Meetings

School meetings can feel overwhelming. These checklists will help you prepare, stay organized, and make sure you say everything you need to say.

Before the Meeting

Read your child's current IEP or 504 Plan—write down what's working and what's not
Collect recent report cards, progress reports, and notes from teachers
Write down specific examples ("My child can't finish homework in time," "Gets frustrated during reading")
List your top 3 goals for this meeting (what you want to change or add)
Write down questions you want to ask
Ask for test results or evaluation reports at least 5 days before the meeting
Bring a friend, family member, or advocate for support if you want

During the Meeting

Take notes or ask if the meeting can be recorded
Stop and ask questions if you don't understand something—it's your right
Tell them what you see at home ("She cries before school," "He needs 3 hours for homework")
Make sure goals are clear and actually helpful for your child
Ask for more help or testing if you think it's needed
DON'T sign if you're not comfortable—you can take it home and review it first
Get copies of everything before you leave

After the Meeting

Read through the IEP/504 Plan carefully at home
Send an email thanking them and listing what was agreed on
Write down anything you disagreed with or are worried about
If you don't agree, email to request another meeting or file a concern
Check in regularly to make sure the school is doing what they said they would
Set up times to talk with teachers and see how things are going

Questions to Ask at IEP or 504 Meetings

How Is My Child Doing Right Now?

Can you show me the data on how my child is doing?
Did my child meet last year's goals? How do you know?
Where is my child struggling the most?
What is my child good at? How can we use those strengths?

About Goals & Services

How did you come up with these goals? Are they challenging enough for my child?
How will you measure progress? When will I get updates?
What services will my child get? How often (minutes per week)?
Who will work with my child? What training do they have?
Will my child get pulled out of class or get help in the regular classroom?

About Accommodations & Support

What accommodations will my child get every day?
How will you make sure all teachers know about and use these accommodations?
What tools or technology will my child have access to?
How will you check that accommodations are actually being used?

About What Happens Next

If my child is in high school, what's the plan for after graduation?
When will we meet again to review the IEP/504?
What can I do at home to help my child?
Who do I call or email if I have questions or problems?

Important Information

If You Need Emergency Help

We help with school advocacy—not mental health emergencies.

If you or your child needs immediate help:

Call 988: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (free, 24/7, confidential)
Call 911: For emergencies
Text "HELLO" to 741741: Crisis Text Line (free, 24/7)

Your Privacy Is Protected

We keep all information about your family private and secure. We follow federal privacy laws:

FERPA: Protects your child's school records
HIPAA: Protects health information (when we work with medical records)

Your documents are stored securely with encryption, and only authorized staff can see them.

This Is Not Legal Advice

The information on this website is to help you learn—it's not legal advice. If you need a lawyer (like for due process or court), please contact a special education attorney.

We're educational advocates, not lawyers. We help families understand the system and speak up for their children.

Free Resources for Families