Free IEP guides for parents
Plain-English help for the parts of special education that parents ask about most. Each guide is general information; for help specific to your child, upload their IEP.
IEP vs. 504 plan: what's the difference?
Two laws, two kinds of support. A side-by-side comparison and how to tell which fits your child.
How to request a special education evaluation
Your right to ask, the 60-day timeline, what the school must do next, and a letter template.
IEP meeting checklist for parents
What to do before, during, and after the meeting, including records, attendees, and copies.
IEP accommodations: examples by need
Examples for attention, reading and writing, autism, anxiety, and physical needs, plus accommodations vs. modifications.
Prior written notice: what it is and how to ask for it
When the school must explain its decisions in writing, what the notice must include, and how to request it.
Independent educational evaluations (IEEs)
Your right to an outside evaluation at public expense when you disagree with the school's.
Questions to ask at an IEP meeting
A categorized list of questions for present levels, goals, services, accommodations, and before you sign.
How to write an IEP parent concerns letter
What to include, how to structure it, and how to get a draft from your child's IEP.
IEP letter generator
Advocacy letters, emails, and templates drafted from your child's actual IEP.
Can't afford an IEP advocate?
What's free, what's low-cost, and where an AI tool fits — and where it doesn't.
When the school isn't following the IEP
What federal law requires, and the steps parents can take, from a written request to a state complaint.
Your rights as a parent in the IEP process
Consent, prior written notice, records, independent evaluations, and resolving disagreements.
How to request an IEP meeting
You don't have to wait for the annual review. When to ask, a sample request, and what the law says about scheduling and changes.
Extended school year (ESY): summer services in the IEP
Who decides whether your child gets services beyond the school year, what the law requires, and how to ask.
Moving with an IEP: changing schools or states
What the new school must provide while it adopts the IEP or writes a new one, in the same state or a new one.
Looking for local help? See special education resources by state.