M. Patton’s Advocacy Corner  Special Education Support for Parents

What one Kentucky district’s data can teach us about supporting students with disabilities. Every Parent Should Ask This Question Schools have an important responsibility to respond when a student experiences a genuine mental health crisis. Crisis response protocols save lives and are an essential part of school safety. But another important question deserves attention: Are students with disabilities being referred for mental health crisis assessments at rates far exceeding t

When most parents hear the phrase behavioral threat assessment, they assume it is reserved for the rare student who poses a serious danger to themselves or others. But what happens when threat assessments are repeatedly used on students whose behaviors are actually manifestations of their disabilities? That question was at the center of a major investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice involving the Pasco County School District in Florida. The resulting Settlement Agree

One of the most common misconceptions I encounter as a special education advocate is when a student with a disability is actually considered “graduated.” Many parents are told their child is “graduating” at the end of twelfth grade. Others receive paperwork showing a graduation code in the district’s student information system or are told their child is entering “Grade 14.” Understandably, families assume their child’s special education services have ended. But under the Indi

Recent discussions regarding the transfer of federal special education oversight responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to other federal agencies have generated significant concern among disability advocates, families, educators, and civil rights organizations. While these discussions are often framed as administrative restructuring, the reality is that special education oversight encompasses far more than educational programming alone. It serves as the primar

When it comes to special education, one thing is clear: Parent concerns are not optional. They are not a courtesy. They are not something to be summarized or minimized. They are legally required to be considered—and clearly documented. What IDEA Requires About Parent Concerns Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parent participation is a foundational right—not an afterthought. IDEA Regulation: 34 CFR §300.324(a)(1)(ii) states that the IEP Team must co

When your child qualifies for special education, most parents are told something reassuring: “You have rights.” And that’s true. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents are equal members of the ARC/IEP team , with protections built into every step of the process. But here’s the part no one explains clearly: Those rights are not automatically enforced. IDEA Is a Civil Rights Law—But It’s Also Complaint-Driven IDEA is a federal law designed to ensu