Talk to an Education Advocate
DREDF’s Education Advocates serve parents, youth, and professionals in these Central and Northern California counties. Call us at 1-800-348-4232 or email iephelp@dredf.org
Alameda
Alpine
Amador
Butte
Calaveras
Colusa
Contra Costa
Del Norte
El Dorado
Glenn
Humboldt
Lake
Lassen
Mendocino
Modoc
Nevada
Placer
Plumas
Sacramento
San Joaquin
Shasta
Sierra
Siskiyou
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Trinity
Tuolumne
Yolo
Yuba
We also conduct regular trainings in English and Spanish. Check out the Calendar for upcoming trainings.
DREDF’s Guide to Due Process in California
In light of changes made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by Congress in 2004, and changes in California’s mediation process, DREDF’s A Guide for California Parents: Special Education Due Process and the Resolution Session, 2ed (PDF). offers guidance through the California special education due process procedure.
Sample Letters for Special Education
Over the course of a child’s education we communicate with teachers, administrators, and others. While much of the communication is informal face-to-face, or over the phone conversations, there are times when communications need to be made in writing. Having a paper trail often helps in the event a dispute arises between families and school districts.
Visit our collection of Sample Letters
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004)
- Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR) (Disability Rights California) (Note: specific to California)
- Law: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (Library of Congress) (PDF)
- IDEA Regulations: 34 CFR Parts 300 and 301; Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities; Final Rule (US Dept of Education)
- Summary of Changes in IDEA 2004 (FAPE Project)
- Understanding the Special Education Process (PACER Center)
- IDEA Parent Guide (National Center for Learning Disabilities)
- Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates (Disability Rights Oregon)
- What is FAPE and What Can it Mean to My Child? (National Center for Learning Disabilities)
Trainings
Visit our Trainings page for schedule and registration
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It gives parents certain rights to review and request changes in their child’s school records as well as requiring parental permission for the release of education records except under specified circumstances.
Inclusion
- Special Education Inclusion (Wisconsin Education Association Council)
- Students’ Perceptions of Instruction in Inclusion Classrooms: Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities (PACER Center)
- Las Percepciones de los Estudiantes de la Instrucción en Inclusión en Salones de Clases: Implicaciones para Estudiantes con Problemas de Aprendizaje (PACER Center)
Individual Education Program (IEP)
- What is an IEP? (GreatSchools)
- IEP Overview (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- The IEP Team (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- Content of the IEP (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- Meetings of the IEP Team (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- IEP Goals: The Basics (GreatSchools)
- US Dept of Education Model IEP Form (US Dept of Education)
- The Pop-Up IEP (National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities)
Assessments / Evaluations
- Evaluating School-Aged Children for Disability (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- La Evaluación Gratuita de Niños (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- Your Child’s Evaluation (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- La Evaluación de Su Niño (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- Evaluation: An Overview (GreatSchools)
- Evaluating Children for Disability (Center for Parent Information and Resources)
- Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates (Disability Rights Oregon)
Related Services
- Related Services Fact Sheet (National PTAC)
- Servicios Relacionados (NICHCY)
Transportation
- An Overview of Special Education Transportation: A Primer for Parents and Educators (Mountain Plains RRC)
Assistive Technology
- The Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
- Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology (FCTD)
- La Guía Familiar sobre Tecnología Asistencial (FCTD)
- Assistive Technology 101 (FCTD)
- La Tecnología Asistencial (FCTD)
- Assistive Technology and the IEP (FCTD)
- La Tecnología Asistencial y el IEP (FCTD)
- Assistive Technology Glossary (FCTD)
- Glosario de Términos de la Tecnología Asistencial (FCTD)
- Simple, Inexpensive Devices can Assist in Communication (National PTAC)
- Aparatos Simples y Baratos Pueden Ayudar en la Comunicación (National PTAC)
- Transitioning Your Technology from High School to Adulthood – Power Point Training (Oct. 2008 – Disability Rights California)
Behavior
- Center on Positive Intervention and Behavior Supports
- Functional Behavioral Assessments: What, Why, When, Where, and Who? (Wrights Law)
- IEPs for Behavior Problems, Assessments & Interventions (Wrights Law)
- Special Education in Plain Language: Special Education Behavior and Discipline (Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction)
- Functional Behavioral Assessment and Positive Interventions: What Parents Need to Know (PACER Center)
- Evaluación de Conducta Funcional e Intervenciones Positivas: Lo que los padres necesitan saber (PACER Center)
- Behavior at School (NICHCY)
Discipline
- Behavior Problems & Discipline (Wrights Law)
- US Dept of Education Questions and Answers on Discipline Procedures
Response to Intervention
- A Parent’s Guide to Response to Intervention (RTI) (NCLD)
- Response-to-Intervention. An Emerging Method for LD Identification (GreatSchools)
Transition
- Transition to Adult Living: An Information and Resource Guide (CalSTAT)
- Parent Tips for Transition Planning (National PTAC)
- Consejos a Padres para Planeamiento de Transición (National PTAC)
Procedural Safeguards and Due Process
- Procedural Safeguards: (Understanding and Exercising Your Legal Rights (NCLD)
- IDEA 2004 Close Up: Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools (GreatSchools)
- Procedural Safeguards: (Resolution Meetings and Due Process Hearings (US Dept of Education)
- Questions and Answers on Procedural Safeguards and Due Process Procedures For Parents and Children With Disabilities (US Dept of Education)
Resolution Meetings
- Resolution Meetings: A Guide for Parents (CADRE and TA Alliance)
- A Guide for California Parents: Special Education Due Process and the Resolution Session (DREDF)
Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Mediation + Options to Resolve Problems Underlying Disputes (Lyn Beekman via CADRE)
- Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child’s School (CADRE)
- Facilitated IEPs: An Emerging Practice (CADRE)
- Reuniones de IEP Facilitadas: Una Nueva Opcion (CADRE)
- Dispute Resolution in Special Education Through Mediation (Bureau of Indian Education)
Learning Disabilities and ADHD
- LD Basics (LD Online)
- Dyslexia (LD Online)
- Dyscalculia (LD Online)
- Dysgraphia (LD Online)
- Visual and Auditory Processing Disorders (LD Online)
- Nonverbal Learning Disorders (LD Online)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Basics (LD Online)
- ADHD and Education (LD Online)
- Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Resource for School and Home 2006 (US Dept of Education)
Resources for Military Families
- MilitaryK12Partners
- STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents)