The Changing Faces of Our Schools
According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s, or OSPI’s, school district report cards, the number of students enrolled in the North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater school districts declined by 1,035 students between 2018 and 2023.
However, ...
The Tacoma Special Education PTA is an amazing resource for Pierce County families. The group provides training and resource to Tacoma School District families. On October 23, their Zoom meeting focused on making schools more inclusive. I had the great honor to hear of a very inclusive elementary sc...
Tonight, the South Sound Legislative Forum was held at The Olympia Center. The forum was organized and hosted by the Developmental Disabilities Coalition (Thurston County) and The Arc of Washington. It was an amazing experience, hearing from self-advocates and policy champions. I am especially grate...
North Thurston Public Schools had their Board of Directors meeting on October 1, 2024. I've noticed some problematic special education practices, and so I addressed the Board. Specifically, the district seems to have no formal procedure for determining a child's need for a paraeducator. Yet, OSPI pr...
I sent an email to OSPI on September 17, 2024, requesting information. No word yet. I would rally like these templates, as they will help many families across the state participate meaningfully with the IEP team in determining the need for a paraeducator.
My Request to OSPI
I’ve been in several IEP team meetings lately where the team refuses to consider the need for a paraeducator. It general follows that that teachers are quiet and administrators are participating in the conversation around paraeducators, making the decision for the team. This worries me, as it is not...
Clover Park School District is a district near Tacoma, Washington that serves 12,000 children. It is near, and has schools on, the Joint Base Lewis McChord. More than a third of children are military dependents, and thus highly mobile. The district updated their Strategic Plan with several goals, on...
Advocacy Unlocked LLC is super excited to open in-person locations serving. As part of this effort, we have done significant research into the educational landscape in these areas. At first, we considered this a standard process of determining if families needed IEP advocates and support with specia...
An IEP binder is not just a one-time project; it is a dynamic tool that evolves with your child's educational journey. Keeping your IEP binder up-to-date and relevant is crucial for effective advocacy. A well-maintained binder ensures that you have the most current information at your fingertips, al...
In the world of special education advocacy, preparation is key. One of the most effective tools at your disposal is a physical IEP binder. Unlike digital files that can be misplaced or forgotten, a physical binder serves as a tangible resource you can bring to every meeting, ensuring that you have ...
Navigating the world of special education can be daunting for any parent. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, in particular, involves a significant amount of paperwork, meetings, and decisions that can leave parents feeling overwhelmed. With evaluations, progress reports, medical rec...
Building an IEP binder from scratch is a giant step in organizing your child's educational documents and ensuring you are prepared for meetings. A well-organized binder can serve as a advocacy tool, allowing you to access important information quickly and efficiently. This guide will walk you throug...
