Special Education: A Guide for Parents

This guide, available in English and in Spanish, from Disability Rights Oregon explains the rights of children with disabilities in Oregon public schools. 

It is for parents, caregivers, and advocates who have questions about special education services, IEPs, school evaluations, discipline, placement or disagreements with a school district.

The guide explains key special education laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Oregon's Senate Bill 819, which protects the right of students with disabilities to attend a full school day. It also explains important terms such as Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), Individualized Education Program (IEP), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and Prior Written Notice.

You can use this guide to learn how students qualify for special education, how to ask for an evaluation, what should be in an IEP, and what rights parents have during IEP meetings. The guide also covers early intervention, early childhood special education, assistive technology, extended school year services, transition planning for adulthood, and Section 504 plans.

The guide has information about school discipline for students with disabilities, including suspensions, expulsions, manifestation determination meetings, restraint, seclusion, functional behavior assessments, and behavior support plans. It also explains what parents can do when they disagree with the school, including asking for a facilitated IEP meeting, mediation, filing a complaint with the Oregon Department of Education, or requesting a due process hearing.

The guide also includes sample letters, tips for writing to school district administrators, resources, a glossary, and legal citations. It can help Oregon families understand their child's special education rights and take steps to ask for services, supports, or changes at school.