Alternatives to Hiring a Montana Special Education Attorney for IEP Disputes
Can't afford a special education attorney in Montana? These alternatives help you advocate for your child's IEP rights — from free resources to self-advocacy toolkits.
Blog
All articles about Montana IEP & 504 Blueprint.
Best IEP Help for Parents in Rural Montana Small Districts
The best IEP advocacy tools for Montana parents in small rural districts where cooperatives deliver services, specialists are scarce, and PLUK no longer exists.
Free Montana Special Education Resources vs Paid IEP Toolkit: What Actually Helps at the IEP Table
An honest comparison of Montana's free special education resources (MEC, DRM, OPI) against paid IEP toolkits — what each covers, what each misses, and which you need.
How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting in Montana Without an Advocate
Step-by-step preparation guide for Montana parents attending IEP meetings alone — what to bring, what to say, and how to cite ARM and MCA at the table.
Montana IEP Toolkit vs Hiring a Special Education Advocate: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Compare the cost, speed, and effectiveness of a Montana-specific IEP toolkit against hiring a special education advocate — and when each option makes sense.
What Is an IEP in Montana? The Complete Parent's Guide
Learn what an IEP is in Montana, how ARM Title 10 Chapter 16 rules apply, the 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline, and how cooperatives deliver services across rural districts.
How to Request a Special Education Evaluation in Montana
A step-by-step guide for Montana parents on how to request an IEP evaluation, what happens after you submit the request, and what to do if the school refuses.
Parent Rights in Montana Special Education: What the Law Actually Guarantees
What Montana parents are entitled to under IDEA and ARM Title 10, Chapter 16 — from Prior Written Notice and IEE rights to mediation, due process, and what happens when rights transfer at 18.
IEP Accommodations for ADHD in Montana: What to Ask For and How to Enforce Them
What IEP accommodations for ADHD should cover in Montana, how they differ from modifications, and what to do when teachers aren't following the plan.
504 Plan vs IEP in Montana: Which One Does Your Child Actually Need?
Compare 504 plans and IEPs under Montana's ARM 10.16 rules. Learn eligibility differences, why OPI has no authority over 504 plans, and which plan fits your child.
504 Plan for Anxiety in Montana: How to Get Accommodations That Address the Real Problem
How anxiety qualifies for a 504 plan in Montana, what effective accommodations look like, how to request an evaluation, and when to push for an IEP instead.
504 Plan for ADHD in Montana: Accommodations, Eligibility, and Who to Contact
How to get a 504 plan for ADHD in Montana, what accommodations to request, how eligibility works under Section 504, and why OCR handles complaints — not OPI.
Transition IEP Goals in Montana: Planning for Life After High School
How Montana IEP transition planning works, what transition goals must include, and why rural Montana makes early planning more critical than anywhere else.
Special Education Evaluation in Montana: Timeline, Process, and What to Do If School Refuses
How to request a special education evaluation in Montana, what the 60-calendar-day timeline covers, what a comprehensive evaluation includes, and your rights if the district refuses.
Special Education Attorney in Montana: When You Need Legal Help and What to Expect
Learn when to hire a Montana special education attorney, what due process hearings look like under ARM 10.16, what attorneys cost, and lower-cost options for rural MT families.
Special Education Advocate in Montana: What They Do, What They Cost, and Where to Find Help
Learn what special education advocates do in Montana, how MEC and Disability Rights Montana can help, what private advocates cost, and when you can handle it yourself.
IEP Progress Monitoring in Montana: What Schools Must Report and What to Do When They Don't
What Montana law requires for IEP progress reporting, how to read progress reports, and what steps to take if your child is not making progress on IEP goals.
Independent Educational Evaluation in Montana: Your Right to a Second Opinion at Public Expense
Montana parents have the right to an IEE at public expense when they disagree with the district's evaluation. Learn the ARM 10.16.3504 process and what districts must do.
IEP Meeting Checklist for Montana Parents: Prepare Before You Walk In
A practical Montana IEP meeting checklist — what to review in advance, what to ask during the meeting, and what to confirm in writing afterward.
IEP Goal Bank for Montana Parents: What Makes a Goal Legally Sufficient
What measurable IEP goals look like under Montana ARM requirements, sample goals by area, how progress monitoring works, and what cooperative tracking means for rural families.
IEP for Anxiety in Montana: When Your Child Needs More Than a 504
When anxiety qualifies for a Montana IEP, what the evaluation process looks like, and how to decide between an IEP and a 504 plan for a child struggling with school anxiety.
IEP for Autism in Montana: Eligibility, Goals, and Services
How autism IEP eligibility works in Montana including the unique Type 1 and Type 2 classification, what goals address autism needs, and how rural teletherapy fits in.
IEP for ADHD in Montana: Eligibility, Services, and What to Expect
How ADHD qualifies for an IEP in Montana under the OHI category, what the 60-day evaluation timeline covers, and when an IEP makes more sense than a 504 plan.
Functional Behavior Assessment in Montana: When to Request One and What It Must Include
Learn when Montana districts must conduct an FBA, how it connects to a BIP, the role of cooperative psychologists, and what to do when behavior help is hard to access in rural MT.
Due Process Hearings in Montana Special Education: What to Expect
How Montana special education due process hearings work, what dispute resolution options come first, and what documentation you need before filing a complaint.
Behavior Intervention Plan in Montana: What It Must Include and How to Enforce It
What a behavior intervention plan must include in a Montana IEP, how it connects to the FBA, who is responsible for implementing it, and what to do when staff don't follow it.
Manifestation Determination in Montana: What Happens When Your Child Is Suspended
How Montana's manifestation determination review works, when the 10-day clock starts, what the two questions are, and what to do if you disagree with the outcome.
The Montana IEP Process: Step-by-Step Under ARM Title 10, Chapter 16
How the IEP process works in Montana from referral through triennial re-evaluation, including the 60-calendar-day evaluation timeline, cooperative involvement, and parent rights at each step.
Compensatory Education in Montana: What It Is and How to Request It
What compensatory education means under Montana's IEP regulations, when students are entitled to it, how to document missed services, and how to request make-up services from a rural district.