IDEA law question?

Question

How long does a school district have to respond to a request for a 1:1 aide for a student? Does IDEA give a time frame?

Answer 1

Call for an IEP meeting. A 1:1 assistant is an IEP team decision. It also requires a new IEP, so the sooner you make the request, the better off you are. Most schools have a special education staffing specialist, so you may want to call him or her. They will have to be at the meeting. Since the money will come out of the school's budget, the principal will want to attend. Make sure everyone invited (All who deal with your child) knows what you will be discussing. Bring any evidence that you have collected. Schools are very reluctant to give a 1:! because it takes money from what would be used for other kids.

The school is required to give a 10 day notice of any meetings, but you can waive that. However, if your child is highly involved, there will be lots of people that need to attend, so it may take a bit of time for people to match up their schedules. If a lot of foot dragging occurs, call you special education director.

Answer 2

Why does the student need a 1:1, just curious?

Answer 3

No usually it is a state standard, not federal.

In written request for additional services in my district is responded to in 30 days usually requesting an IEP to discuss the request or a notice of refusal.

You can always call an IEP also to ask for services.

Answer 4

The district will have a certain amount of time to set up a meeting to discuss your request and to decide what testing or assesments may be needed to make the changes if applicable.  You can get the exact time frame by requesting a copy of the parent rights during the IEP process from your child's school.  Keep in mind that requesting an aide does not mean you will get one, so use your time to get any anecdotal evidence, correspondence with teachers and other evidence to support the request organzied and ready to go.  If there are physical needs dictating the request, be sure to get a statement from your pediatrician explaining how the aide would be needed.