Schools are not legally obligated to help with ANY problems unless child has IEP or 504 plan.

IEP is special education. Child has to be in special ed to get this help.

Parents and schools are suppose to follow the process in federal special ed laws called IDEA.

THe problem is, schools do not follow these laws.

In fact, most all schools in USA are very corrupt when it comes to special ed. Sorry but that’s the truth.

You can google ‘special education corruption’ and find lots of info on this.

The first step in getting this help is to write to the district special ed director and request ‘an initial educational evaluation testing in all areas of suspected disabilities to determine if my child can qualify for special education services as specified by IDEA law’.

You have to use this phrase or they will twist your words and do other types of testing that is illegal to do for sped eligilbity. I’m telling you though, they will go to the ends of the earth to fight you.

Educationally, the school must ensure your child recieves a free and appropriate education. What that may be will take a fair amount of work to ascertain and, quite often, there is a difference in what the parents feel is appropriate and what the schools feel is. Just because a child has dyslexia (or autism or cerebral palsey) does not garuntee services through special ed. There is a process of assessments and observations, followed by meeting, to see if the child qualifies. Many parents think a diagnosis garuntees adaptations and accomodations..this is not the case. The needs must meet certain levels (usually a minimum of a 20% delay or impact in two or three of five assesment areas). To begin the process, you must request a full assessment to start the process to determine eligability. Once that has begun, and if the child qualifies, you can then begin to work out what is or is not appropriate.

You have to first tell them you want your child tested. Do not let the schools bully you either. They are good at telling you that they did not qualify but they scored low, but not low enough. If that happens you ask them about other tests. Also if you have a teacher who cares and feels that they are struggling get them involved with the case. My son in first grade was struggling. His teacher and I requested the testing, they told me he scored low but not low enough, and that they usually did not put 1st graders in special ed for LD. I fought and I fought hard in that meeting, and lo and behold they offered another test to give him and miraculously he qualified for services. He has had them ever since and he is now a sophmore in HS.

Your child is your responsibility – The school will make sure his educational needs are met – That is it.