Topic 4 Discussion 1

What specific information can a parent/guardian provide to assist in making academic decisions about individuals with exceptionalities?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Parents have the right to participate in all IEP meetings. In fact, IDEA lists parents as the most crucial members needed on student’s IEP team. It also determines that the IEP team cannot change a child’s placement without giving prior notice to the parent/guardian to challenge such change (Swanson & Harris, 2013). Therefore, parents play a fundamental role in making decisions about when, where, and how their children will be taught. Besides, an individual educator cannot make a decision to evaluate or not to evaluate a child to determine his/her eligibility for special education and other services. In addition, parents should be informed in cases where the school districts and States intend to implement pre-referral systems (Cortiella & Horowitz, 2014). This also applies in instances where school district staffs aim at alleviating any educational challenges in the regular classroom. Parents/guardians have the right to request the teacher/educator to evaluate their children…