Special Education Model Forms: What Are They, and How Will They Help My Child?

Are you a parent of a child with a disability receivingappropriate public education (FAPE), or refusesto begin
specialeducation services? Did you know that theor change theidentification, evaluation, or placement of
Individuals withyourchild, or the provision of a free appropriate public
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) required the Office ofeducation. The
SpecialPrior Written Notice form is two pages long, and has all
Education Programs to develop 3 model forms?of therequired elements of PWN. You can use this to
Would you like toknow what they are, and how theyhelp your child, bydownloading the form and filling it in.
can help your child? This articlewill discuss the threeTake the filled in form to an
model forms, and how you can use them inadvocacyIEP meeting,and discuss with disability educators all
to help your child's education.required partsof PWN.
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)Form 3: Procedural Safeguards form. Procedural
which is under thesafeguards are rightsof parents that have a child with
Department of Education was responsible fora disability, given to them by IDEA.
developing the forms.Some of these safeguards are: PWN, informed
These forms may be downloaded at Clickparental consent forpsychological evaluations, parent
Part B, then in the lower left hand side box, click modelparticipation in meetings, right toan independent
forms. Thethree forms are:educational evaluation (IEE), if you disagree withschool
Form 1: Individualized Education Program (IEP) form.personnel's evaluation. You can use this to help your
This form isfour pages long, and has all of the requiredchild byreading and/or downloading the form at the
elements that must beincluded in your child's IEP. Youaddress above. You can usethis to educate yourself
can use this to help your child, bydownloading the form,about parent rights, so that you caneffectively
and filling it in with the things that you thinkyour childadvocate for your child.
needs. Bring the form with you to the meeting, andBy having access to the three model forms, you can
usethe filled out form to ask for services that yourbe an activeparticipant in your child's education. School
child needs.personnel maybe surprised when you bring in your
Form 2: Prior Written Notice form. IDEA requiresown form to an IEP meeting. Byhaving things written
written noticewhenever the school district proposes todown, it will make it easier for you to bring upimportant
begin or change theidentification, evaluation, orissues for your child, at the meeting.
placement of your child or theprovision of a free