Parent Strategy Sessions

Don't wait for your child to fall through the cracks. Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Response to Interventions (RtI) is designed to provide immediate support for all students with critical academic or behavioral needs so they can get back on track as quickly as possible.

Session 1 - What Every Parent Needs to Know about MTSS/RtI & District and State Testing

  • You will learn how MTSS/RtI helps identify and support struggling students through targeted academic interventions, how progress is monitored, and when additional services or a comprehensive evaluation may be appropriate.

  • You will also gain a clear understanding of district and state testing, including why these assessments are given, how to interpret score reports, what the results reveal about your child's academic progress, how testing data are used to make educational decisions, and when assessment results may indicate the need for additional interventions, accommodations, or special education services.

  • By the end of this session, you will know how to use testing and intervention data to advocate effectively for your child's educational success.

Parent Strategy Sessions

Many parents attend school meetings without fully understanding their options. This session will help you confidently navigate IEPs, Section 504 Plans, and your legal rights so you can make informed decisions during meetings and effectively advocate for your child's education.

Session 2 - Know Your Rights: Understanding IEPs & Section 504 Plans

  • You'll learn the differences between Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans, who qualifies for each; as well as understanding the services, accommodations, and supports IEPs and Section 504 Plans provide.

  • You'll gain a clear understanding of the special education process—from referral and evaluation to eligibility, developing goals, selecting accommodations and services, annual reviews, and reevaluations.

  • You’ll learn about the 13 disability categories recognized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how school districts determine eligibility.

  • We'll also discuss your legal rights as a parent, including your role as an equal member of the educational team, how to prepare for school meetings, what questions to ask, how to interpret evaluation reports and recommendations, and what to do if you disagree with the school team’s decisions.

Parent Strategy Sessions

Discover how psychoeducational, speech-language, occupational therapy (OT), and physical therapy (PT) evaluations can unlock a better understanding of your child's strengths and needs. You'll learn the purpose of each type of evaluation, what skills and abilities are assessed, the professionals who conduct them, and how the results are used to determine eligibility for special education, related services, accommodations, and other school-based supports.

Session 3 - Could Your Child Benefit from a School Evaluation?

  • Learn how psychoeducational, speech-language, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and gifted evaluations provide valuable insights into your child's strengths, areas of need, and unique learning profile to help determine the educational supports and services that best promote their success.

  • You'll also learn how to read and understand evaluation reports, interpret test scores and recommendations, recognize the signs that your child may need an evaluation, understand your rights throughout the evaluation process, and ask informed questions during eligibility and school meetings.

  • Learn why each type of evaluation is conducted, what areas of development and learning are assessed, who performs the evaluations, and how the results are used to determine eligibility, recommend services and accommodations, and create personalized plans to help students succeed in school.

Parent Strategy Sessions

Understand how behavior support systems work in schools, when interventions are needed, and how to partner with educators to help your child build the emotional, social, and behavioral skills needed for success.

Session 4 - Key Points of Productive Parent-Teacher Conferences and Making the Best School Choice Option

Many parents attend school meetings without fully understanding their options. This session will help you confidently navigate IEPs, Section 504 Plans, and your legal rights so you can make informed decisions and effectively advocate for your child's education.

  • Learn how to confidently prepare for parent-teacher conferences and make informed decisions about your child's educational future. This session will teach you how to organize for school meetings, ask meaningful questions, understand your child's academic and behavioral progress, interpret grades, classroom assessments, and teacher feedback, and develop an action plan with the teacher to support your child's success.

  • You'll also learn how to identify warning signs that your child may need additional interventions, accommodations, or a comprehensive evaluation, and how to build a positive, collaborative partnership with your child's school throughout the year.

  • In addition, we'll explore the many school choice options available to families, including traditional public schools, magnet schools, charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, homeschooling, and scholarship opportunities.

  • You'll learn the advantages and limitations of each option, the factors to consider when selecting a school, how to evaluate whether a school is the right fit for your child's academic, social, behavioral, and learning needs, and the questions every parent should ask before making an educational decision.