How to Advocate for Your Child's IEP in Mississippi Without a Lawyer
A practical framework for Mississippi parents to self-advocate at IEP meetings — what to document, what to say, and when free tools are enough vs when you need professional help.
Blog
All articles about Mississippi IEP & 504 Blueprint.
Best Mississippi IEP Guide for First-Time Parents
What first-time IEP parents in Mississippi need to know — from the MDE form and Rule 74.19 to evaluation timelines — and the best resource to prepare before your first meeting.
Best IEP Resource for Mississippi Parents in Rural Districts
Why rural Mississippi parents face unique IEP challenges — staffing shortages, teletherapy gaps, limited advocate access — and the best resource for navigating them.
Alternatives to Free Mississippi IEP Resources When You Need More Than Information
Free IEP resources from MSPTI, FAAMS, and SPLC explain Mississippi special education law — but they don't give you the tactical tools to enforce it. Here's what fills the gap.
Mississippi IEP Guide vs Wrightslaw: Which Do You Actually Need?
Comparing a Mississippi-specific IEP toolkit with Wrightslaw's national legal references — what each covers, what each misses, and which one helps you at the IEP table.
How to Request an IEP Evaluation in Mississippi: The Letter That Starts the Clock
A written evaluation request is the most important document in the Mississippi IEP process. Learn exactly what to say, what rights it triggers, and how to bypass MTSS delays.
Mississippi's 3rd Grade Reading Gate and IEPs: What Parents of K-3 Students Need to Know
Mississippi's Literacy Based Promotion Act can hold back struggling readers in 3rd grade. Learn how an IEP or official dyslexia diagnosis creates a Good Cause Exemption.
Due Process Hearing in Mississippi: When to File, What to Expect, and How to Prepare
Mississippi special education due process is a formal legal proceeding. Learn when it's appropriate, what the state-specific timelines are, and the lower-cost paths to try first.
What Is an IEP in Mississippi? A Plain-Language Guide for Parents
What is an IEP in Mississippi? Learn how Mississippi's IEP process works under State Board Policy 74.19, key timelines, and your rights as a parent.
IEP Progress Monitoring in Mississippi: How to Read the Reports and When to Push Back
Mississippi uses A-D progress codes for IEP goals. Learn what each code means, when the school must reconvene, and how to build your own home tracking system.
Special Education Parent Rights in Mississippi: What the Law Actually Gives You
Mississippi parents have specific legal rights under IDEA and State Board Policy 74.19. Know your rights to evaluations, records, dispute resolution, and more.
IEP Goals for Autism in Mississippi: What Good Goals Look Like and How to Audit Yours
Mississippi autism IEP goals must be measurable, standards-based, and tied to PLAAFP data. Learn what good goals look like and what red flags signal a weak IEP.
Behavior Intervention Plan in Mississippi: What It Must Include and How to Enforce It
A Mississippi BIP is a legally required plan after an FBA — not a list of punishments. Learn what a function-based BIP looks like and what to do when the school's BIP falls short.
504 Plan for Anxiety in Mississippi: Eligibility, Accommodations, and What to Expect
Does anxiety qualify for a 504 plan in Mississippi? Learn eligibility criteria, the best accommodations for anxiety disorders, and how to request a 504 evaluation.
504 Plan vs IEP in Mississippi: Which Does Your Child Need?
Understand the key differences between a 504 plan and IEP in Mississippi, including eligibility, rights, and what each plan actually provides.
504 Plan for ADHD in Mississippi: Accommodations, Eligibility, and How to Get One
How to get a 504 plan for ADHD in Mississippi: eligibility rules, the best accommodations for attention and executive function, and what to do when the school says no.
Transition IEP Goals in Mississippi: What Your Teen Needs Starting at Age 14
Mississippi requires transition planning in IEPs starting at age 14 — two years earlier than federal law. Learn what vocational goals, MDRS coordination, and post-secondary planning must include.
Special Education Evaluation in Mississippi: Timelines, Rights, and How to Push Back
Mississippi's 60-day evaluation deadline is a hard legal deadline. Learn how the evaluation process works, what a proper assessment includes, and your rights when schools delay.
Special Education Attorney in Mississippi: When to Hire One and What It Costs
Know when a Mississippi special education attorney is necessary, what due process hearings cost, and the lower-cost options that work for most IEP disputes.
Special Education Advocate in Mississippi: Do You Need One and What Are the Alternatives?
Mississippi special education advocates cost $100-300/hour. Know when to hire one, how to find advocates in MS, and what you can do yourself with the right tools.
Independent Educational Evaluation in Mississippi: Your Right to a Second Opinion
Mississippi parents can request an IEE at public expense when they disagree with school evaluations. Here's exactly how the process works under Mississippi law.
Mississippi IEP Meeting Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After
A practical IEP meeting checklist for Mississippi parents — what documents to request in advance, what to watch for at the table, and how to follow up in writing.
Mississippi IEP Goal Bank: Standards-Based Goal Examples Across Disability Areas
Sample IEP goals written to Mississippi's standards-based requirements — covering reading, math, communication, behavior, and functional skills with required benchmarks.
IEP for Autism in Mississippi: What the IEP Must Cover and How to Advocate
Mississippi IEPs for autism must address communication, behavior, social skills, and LRE. Learn what to look for, what's often missing, and how to push for more.
IEP for ADHD in Mississippi: When a 504 Isn't Enough
When does a child with ADHD in Mississippi need an IEP instead of a 504? Learn eligibility under OHI, what IEP goals look like, and how to request an evaluation.
Functional Behavior Assessment in Mississippi: What Parents Need to Know
Learn when Mississippi schools must conduct an FBA, what it should include, and how to use the results to build a meaningful Behavior Intervention Plan.
Manifestation Determination in Mississippi: What Happens When Your Child with an IEP Faces Suspension
Mississippi parents must understand the manifestation determination review before their child's IEP or 504 rights are put at risk during a discipline crisis.
The Mississippi IEP Process: Step by Step from Referral to Annual Review
A complete walkthrough of the Mississippi IEP process — evaluation timelines, eligibility, IEP development, implementation, and annual reviews — with key deadlines.
Compensatory Education in Mississippi: How to Recover Services Your Child Was Denied
If Mississippi schools failed to provide IEP services, your child may be owed compensatory education. Learn how to document, request, and negotiate makeup services.