- Does your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) specify how your child will receive services during e-learning days (a.k.a. virtual-learning days)?
- Check your child’s IEP “Services and Other Provisions” section to find out.
- Does the IEP include generic language about e-learning services, instead of how each service will be delivered to meet your child unique needs?
- Or, maybe your child’s IEP contains nothing about e-learning.
- If either applies, this article is for you!
THE ISSUE:
Schools sometimes close unexpectedly due to weather and the result is an e-learning day. And following the pandemic, schools can use e-learning days instead of traditional snow days. But is your child receiving a free and appropriate education (FAPE) during e-learning?
When you and the other members of your child’s case conference committee (CCC) write an IEP, the special education and related services necessary to meet your student’s unique needs must be determined. If your child’s school uses e-learning days, the CCC should also discuss and specify how your child’s services will meet their unique needs on such days.
Some school districts include generic e-learning language in the description/narrative of the IEP services for all students in the district. The language specifies that unexpected e-learning might occur, and it states how services will be provided.
If your child’s IEP contains the same language about e-learning for every IEP service, your school district might be using such generic language. Additionally, if you and the other CCC members never discussed how IEP services would be provided specifically to your child during e-learning, your child might not be receiving FAPE when school is cancelled.
Likewise, if your child’s IEP contains no language regarding e-learning days but your school uses them, your child might not be receiving FAPE on such days.
WHAT TO DO:
Request a CCC meeting to discuss how your child’s IEP services will be provided during e-learning. Discuss whether the proposed plan will meet your child’s needs or if something different is appropriate.
A student with an IEP is entitled to specialized instruction from a licensed teacher. Also, therapy is to be provided by a licensed therapist. If your child’s special education teacher is sending home worksheets or a packet of schoolwork, this might not be appropriate. Similarly, if your child’s therapist is sending home exercises or activities for you to do with your child, you’re having to provide therapy instead of the licensed therapist.
One option to discuss is having the teacher or therapist provide online, synchronous services. These might be delivered in a group or individually, based on the student’s IEP and need.
Additionally, discuss how your child’s accommodations will be provided during e-learning days. If your child uses assistive technology at school, discuss how your child can access such technology during e-learning.
NEED FURTHER HELP:
If you need additional assistance, have questions, or feel your child is not receiving FAPE, complete our application for services.
