Kim L. Wiley, Ph.D., MCJ Director, Education Equity
If you’ve ever sat in a school meeting and nodded along while educators rattled off acronyms you’ve never heard before, you’re not alone. For many parents, the world of education services can feel overwhelming. The truth is you have more power than you may realize. And knowing how to use it could change the course of your child’s education. This is especially true for parents whose children are enrolled in special education or whose children may need extra support or services during their academic journey. At the Mississippi Center for Justice, we are here to help you understand that power and channel it into real advocacy.
Starting with the Basics: What Is an IEP?
An Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is exactly what it sounds like — a personalized plan designed around your child’s specific needs. It typically begins when someone notices a child is struggling. That could be a teacher, or it could be you as a parent. Either way, a formal evaluation process gets started to determine whether your child qualifies for additional support.
Here’s something critically important that many parents don’t realize: you are supposed to be part of this process from the very beginning. An IEP is not something a teacher or administrator can create without you. You are a member of the IEP team, and the plan should be built with you, not handed to you after the fact.
Once an IEP is in place, it carries real weight. Whatever services and supports are written into that document, the school is legally required to provide them. The plan includes clear, measurable goals, and as a parent, you have the right to request changes and adjustments at any time.
That said, IEPs can be dense and difficult to read, even for attorneys like ours. The format and specifics can vary significantly from one school district to another. If you’ve never seen one before, don’t be discouraged if it feels like a foreign language at first. That’s why having informed support and resources in your corner matters so much.
At MCJ, we equip parents with sample IEPs – and most importantly a glossary of terms to help you make sense of all the acronyms – so when you walk into that first meeting, you have a better understanding of the process and the plans.
When Behavior Becomes Part of the Picture
In our work, we know that sometimes students may act out in the classroom or become frustrated if they do not understand the material that is being presented to them. The default should never be to punish the child but understand what the underlying issues are leading to this disruptive behavior.
Nine times out of ten, a child acting out in the classroom may be struggling with an underlying learning disability. If your child is having difficulty concentrating or regulating their behavior, that concern can and should be addressed within the IEP framework through what’s called a Behavioral Intervention Plan, or BIP.
This matters enormously when discipline enters the picture. If a child with a BIP has an incident at school — say, a moment of frustration that escalates — the school is required to conduct what’s called a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) before any disciplinary action can be taken. The purpose is to determine whether the behavior was a direct result of the child’s disability. As a parent, knowing this exists — and knowing that it applies to your child — is a powerful piece of information.
What Happens When Your Child Isn’t Making Enough Progress?
Let’s say your child has an IEP in place, but by fall, the data shows they haven’t made the progress they should have. In that case, your child may be entitled to compensatory services — additional support to make up for what they didn’t receive or what wasn’t working.
Beyond that, your child may also qualify for Extended School Year (ESY) services. ESY is not the same as summer school, and it’s not available to every student, but it exists specifically for children who are at risk of significant regression without continued support during extended school breaks.
If ESY is something your child may need, this document outlines the criteria that the Special Education (SPED) Director and teaching staff at your child’s school must use to determine if they are eligible for ESY.
Advocating for Your Child: What You Should Do Right Now
The single most important piece of advice: be proactive. The moment you suspect something isn’t right, don’t wait. Don’t wait for a report card, or a parent-teacher conference. And definitely don’t wait until the end of the year. Here’s where to begin:
- Establish a relationship with your child’s school. Open the lines of communication as soon as concerns arise. A collaborative relationship with teachers and administrators makes the entire process smoother and more effective.
- Request a meeting at any time. You don’t need to wait for a scheduled IEP review to raise concerns or ask questions. You have the right to request a meeting whenever you need one.
- Request an evaluation if you believe your child needs one. If you haven’t started the IEP process and suspect your child needs support, you can formally request an evaluation yourself. You don’t have to wait for the school to initiate it.
- Track everything. Keep a folder with all documentation — evaluations, IEP documents, progress reports, emails, and meeting notes. Having a clear paper trail is one of the most effective tools a parent advocate can have.
- Contact us if you need support. At MCJ, we have experienced advocates who know the IEP process inside and out. You don’t have to navigate this alone, and reaching out to a knowledgeable advocate can make a tremendous difference. Find more information here.
Your child deserves the support they’re entitled to. And you, as their parent, are their most important advocate. The more you know, the more effectively you can fight for them. Don’t wait. Start the conversation today.