An IEP is a legal document so is it true a child can attend any school.

Question

If the school is offering the services the child needs then would it be a problem trying to get your child in that school?

Answer 1

"Of course if a school is offering services then it shouldn't be a problem getting your child in that school, the only problem is that if several schools offer services, the district will decide which school is better based on your child's needs and which school is nearest to your home for transportation."

This is very correct! If several school in your direct area/zone are offering those services that your child needs, they will send you to the nearest school to save money on transportation costs.

Another tip to give you more options for selection is to look at if any of the schools you want your child to go to are AYP achieving schools. If the school has made AYP, and the schools that you are zoned which provide the specific services have not, it is your right under nclb (No Child Left Behind) to choose an achieving school that offers the specific services.

Answer 2

Placement is decided at an IEP meeting.  The criteria is least restrictive environment where IEP goals can be supported and met.  The first place to look for this is at the "home school" of the student, that school they would go to as a regular education student.  If there is no APPROPRIATE (not best, the school DOES NOT have to provide BEST, just appropriate) placement at the home school, then the team starts to look at other placements within the district.   I always tour ALL placement options before an IEP meeting so that I can participate as a fully informed member of the IEP team.  I know going in which placements are appropriate, and which will not work for my child, since I am an expert on my child.   If you know that this is the most appropriate placement for your child, then you will also need to have reasons why the other placement options are not appropriate.  Here's a great IEP FAQ  http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.faqs....  

Answer 3

Yes it a legal document and any school has to go by it and they can not refuse the child entrance to there school because of a iep that would discrimination

Answer 4

Of course if a school is offering services then it shouldn't be a problem getting your child in that school, the only problem is that if several schools offer services, the district will decide which school is better based on your child's needs and which school is nearest to your home for transportation.  

Answer 5

If your child has an IEP, you can call a meeting of the IEP team at any time you want to discuss placement of your child.  Now, if the school your child is currently at is able to handle the demands of your child's disability, it will make it more difficult for the school district to decide to place him somewhere else, just because you like that school better.  You must show that there is some reason that the other school is a better fit for your child's needs, and that they can offer something that his current (home) school cannot.  Such as: your child has a feeding issue that requires a nurse; and his home school does not have one on hand, but the other school does.  Or, he has a significant delay in which it is not safe for him to be at a school with larger children, but needs to be in a setting with children more his size.  

The law guarantees your child a "free appropriate education in the least restrictive setting"; this means (to the school district) the least expensive way that they can meet your child's needs.  If you want more out of your school district, you have to fight for it.  Do your research (a great book is Nolo's IEP Guide- http://www.amazon.com/Complete-IEP-Guide...   The more you know about your child's rights and the laws, the more you can advocate for them and get the services you need.  

Here is a copy of the IDEA law (2004) that pertains to children with disabilities.... it is long (like 162 pages), but it spells out all the rights the law gives. http://www.nichcy.org/reauth/PL108-446.p...  

Answer 6

talk to the principal.  never hold your child back or use the disability as an excuse.  your child can accomplish many things if your teach him/her to believe.

Answer 7

It can be a problem getting into a school that has special programs for you to choice into that school.  My son has an IEP and we don't care for our districts autism program.  You can not choice into another districts special program.  I have found a loophole.  You can choice into that other districts regular ed. school of your choice.  Then the child is considered as its home school, this school can then refer you to the special program in that district.