Alternatives to Hiring a DC Special Education Advocate for IEP Disputes
DC special education advocates cost $1,500-$2,500 for a typical IEP engagement. Compare 5 alternatives for parents who need help but can't afford professional advocacy.
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All articles about District of Columbia IEP & 504 Blueprint.
Best IEP Resource for DC Parents Who Can't Afford a Special Education Advocate
DC special education advocates charge $150-$300/hour. Here's how to self-advocate effectively at DCPS and charter school IEP meetings without paying for professional help.
Best IEP Tool for DCPS Location of Services Disputes
When DCPS assigns your child to a school across the city, you need more than federal IDEA knowledge. Here's what works for challenging Location of Services decisions in DC.
How to Document Compensatory Education Under DC's Reid Standard Without an Attorney
DC's Reid standard rejects hour-for-hour compensatory education calculations. Learn how to document the qualitative evidence DC hearing officers actually require.
Wrightslaw vs. a DC-Specific IEP Guide — Federal Law Alone Won't Win Your Case
Compare Wrightslaw's national special education resources with a DC-specific IEP guide. Learn why federal law knowledge isn't enough for DCPS and charter school IEP disputes.
DC Due Process Hearings: How ODR Works and What DC Parents Need to Know
How DC's Office of Dispute Resolution handles due process hearings — timelines, the 2-year statute of limitations, resolution meetings, and what to expect at a hearing.
How to Request an IEP Evaluation in DC: Starting the 120-Day Clock
Step-by-step guide to requesting a special education evaluation in DC — what to write, who to send it to, and how to track DCPS and charter school compliance with the 120-day timeline.
What Is an IEP in DC? A Guide for DCPS and Charter School Parents
What an IEP is and how DC's dual system — DCPS plus 60+ charter LEAs — shapes the process under Title 38 DC Code and 5-A DCMR for families in the District.
DC Parent Rights in Special Education: DCPS, Charters, and OSSE Explained
Your legal rights as a DC parent in special education — prior written notice, IEE, consent, stay-put, and dispute rights under Title 38 DC Code and 5-A DCMR.
IEP Goals for Autism in DC Schools: Communication, Behavior, and Social Skills
Measurable IEP goal examples for students with autism in DC — communication, social skills, behavior regulation, adaptive living, and transition goals aligned to DCPS standards.
ADHD IEP Accommodations in DC Schools: What to Request and How to Get Them
The specific ADHD accommodations that belong in DC IEPs and 504 plans, how DCPS and charter schools implement them differently, and how to enforce them when they're ignored.
DC 504 Plan for Anxiety: What DCPS and Charter Schools Must Provide
What a 504 plan for anxiety looks like at DCPS and DC charter schools, the accommodations that actually help, and when anxiety requires an IEP rather than a 504 plan.
Behavior Intervention Plans in DC Schools: What DCPS and Charters Must Provide
When DC schools must conduct an FBA and write a BIP, what a compliant BIP contains under 5-A DCMR, and how to challenge a plan that isn't working for your child.
Functional Behavior Assessment in DC Schools: When to Request One and What It Must Include
When DC schools must conduct an FBA, what a compliant FBA includes under IDEA and 5-A DCMR, how to request one at DCPS or a charter school, and DC's IEE rate for independent FBAs.
DC 504 Plan for ADHD: What DCPS and Charter Schools Must Provide
What a 504 plan for ADHD looks like at DCPS and DC charter schools, the specific accommodations to request, and when ADHD requires an IEP instead of a 504 plan.
DC Transition IEP Goals: RSA Pre-ETS, Project SEARCH, and What Starts at Age 14
DC transition IEP planning starts at age 14 — earlier than federal law requires. What the transition section must include, RSA Pre-ETS, and Project SEARCH at the Smithsonian and NIH.
DC Special Education Rights: A Parent's Overview of Title 38 and IDEA in DC
An overview of special education rights for DC parents under IDEA, Title 38 DC Code, and 5-A DCMR — covering evaluation, IEP, placement, discipline, and dispute rights.
DC Special Education Evaluation: What the School Must Assess and What You Can Request
What DC's special education evaluation must include under 5-A DCMR, which assessment areas you can request, and how to respond when the school's evaluation is incomplete.
IEP Progress Monitoring in DC: What DCPS and Charter Schools Must Report
DC IEP progress monitoring requirements — how often schools must report goal progress, what compliant data looks like, and what to do when DCPS or a charter isn't tracking.
DC IEP Meeting Checklist: How to Prepare for DCPS and Charter School IEPs
A practical checklist for DC parents preparing for an IEP meeting at DCPS or a charter school — what to review, what to bring, what to ask, and what to do after.
DC IEP Goal Bank: Measurable Goals for DCPS and Charter School IEPs
Measurable IEP goal examples for DC students across reading, math, behavior, communication, and transition — aligned to DCPS standards and DC's 5-A DCMR requirements.
IEP for Autism in DC: DCPS, Charter Schools, and What the IEP Must Include
How autism qualifies for an IEP in DC, what goals and services a strong autism IEP must contain, and how the DCPS vs. charter LEA structure affects your child's rights.
IEP or 504 Plan for Anxiety in DC: How to Choose at DCPS and Charter Schools
When anxiety qualifies for a DC IEP vs. a 504 plan, what effective anxiety IEP goals look like, and how the DCPS and charter school LEA structure affects your options.
IEP for ADHD in DC: Eligibility, Goals, and What DCPS Parents Need to Know
How ADHD qualifies for an IEP in DC under 5-A DCMR, what effective ADHD IEP goals look like, and when a 504 plan at DCPS or a charter school falls short.
DC IEP Process: The 120-Day Timeline for DCPS and Charter School Parents
DC's 120-day IEP timeline from referral to services — the AED meeting, evaluation, eligibility, and IEP development stages explained for DCPS and charter LEAs.