Ask the Lawyer

Education Law

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Q: My son is in the second grade and receiving special education services from our school district. I have just been sent a notice by my school district that we are having an “annual meeting” regarding those services. What is that annual meeting all about, and what are my rights if he is not getting the services he was promised or I believe he needs additional or different services?

A: If your son is receiving special education services, he has been classified by the school district’s Committee on Special Education, or CSE. The services that the school district is currently providing were determined at your last annual CSE meeting, which was probably held last spring for the current school year. The services that the school district has deemed appropriate for your child were set forth in a document called an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, which is a written statement outlining the plan for providing an educational program for a learning disabled student, which sets forth the child’s classification, placement and special education services, including educational, social and behavioral goals appropriate for that student. An IEP is only effective for one year. At your annual meeting, the IEP is re-evaluated to make sure that it is still appropriate for your child’s needs.

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