| Do you attend your child's Individual Education Plan | | | | training. Because the training and the 90 minutes a day |
| (IEP) meetings, and wish there was a way for you to | | | | of the Wilson reading program is on my child's IEP, |
| have your opinions taken seriously? Do you | | | | Brooke school district is in non compliance with my |
| sometimes leave the meeting, and wonder if they | | | | child's IEP. I hope that as soon as possible, you will |
| heard anything you said? This article will discuss a way | | | | rectify this problem. My son Johnny has the right to a |
| for you to have your opinions heard at your child's IEP | | | | free appropriate public education, which I believe he is |
| meeting. | | | | being denied due to your non compliance with his IEP. |
| A parent input statement is a one page statement, | | | | Mary Johnson |
| where you can give written input into your child's | | | | The parent input statement is an inportant way that |
| education. You can include: things that work for your | | | | you can give your opinion. The input statement must |
| child, things that don't work, academic struggles that | | | | be attached to your child's IEP. IDEA 2004 specifically |
| they have, behavioral difficulties, any educational or | | | | added a section under Evaluation procedures that |
| related services that you believe they need, extended | | | | states . . .including information provided by the parent. |
| school year (ESY), assistive technology (AT). | | | | Tips for writing input statement |
| For Example: Your child with a learning disability who is | | | | 1. Keep it short, maximum one page. |
| 8 years old, is receiving Wilson Reading instruction | | | | 2. Use facts as much as possible. In the above |
| from his teacher. The program, amount of time to be | | | | example a phone call with the child's teacher, was |
| used, and teacher training are listed in Johnny's IEP. | | | | discussed. |
| You have concerns that the teacher has not | | | | 3. State what educational and related services you |
| completed the required training program, and that the | | | | think your child needs, and why. |
| program is not being used for the recommended | | | | 4. Discuss academic progress or lack of academic |
| amount of time (a big problem, in a lot of school | | | | progress, and what you think needs to be done about |
| districts). Your parent input statement could say: | | | | it. |
| I am pleased that at the last IEP meeting on Jan 3rd | | | | 5. Include any adaptations, modifications, educational or |
| that you agreed to the Wilson Reading Program that | | | | related services that are helping your child learn. |
| was recommended by our Independent Evaluator. | | | | By using these 5 tips you can write an effective |
| Specific training for Mrs. Jones, and amount of time | | | | parent input statement. Bring enough copies for |
| working on the program (90 minutes a day) was | | | | everyone at the meeting, and make sure that it is |
| written into my son's IEP. Mrs. Jones told me in a | | | | attached to your child's IEP. A parent input statement is |
| phone conversation on March 5 that Johnny is only | | | | a good step in learning to be an effective advocate |
| receiving 30 minutes a day of the Wilson Reading | | | | for your child's education. |
| Program, and that she has not completed the required | | | | |