Special Education

This fact sheet informs families about extending services from age 3 until kindergarten, through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

This resource explains Maryland’s 5-Day Rule, a law that enables parents to prepare and participate in their child’s IEP.

This brief fact sheets gives an overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a law banning disability discrimination in public schools.

Parents are equal members of the IEP team. Finding ways to effectively advocate for your child during IEP meetings can be difficult. These tips will help prepare you for your next meeting.

A child’s IEP has lots of moving parts including forms and documents which can feel confusing. This fact sheet has tips that can help families be better prepared.

You are your child’s best advocate but we all need help to advocate effectively. This fact sheet has 10 tips that can be helpful.

IEP meetings can be overwhelming with lots of moving parts but it is important that families contribute and partner in the meeting. This checklist has some tips to help families more fully participate in their child’s IEP meeting.

A child with a disability has unique learning needs that need to be addressed as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) but we may not know what this means. This fact sheet defines what is Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) and gives some examples of what it is and what it is not.

It is always important to be prepared in case of an emergency but this is even more true when you have a child with a disabilities or a special healthcare need. The checklist will help to get you started in developing your plan.

This notice includes an explanation of parental rights for children receiving services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The nurse can be a vital member of the IEP team. This short video explains their role in the development of the IEP.

This document, developed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), details the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.

This guide describes the range of home and community-based services available through Medicaid and can help consumers, families, and health care professionals make informed decisions about long-term care services.

This document contains information about the 5 day rule, documents you should receive from the IEP team before a meeting, and what to do if you do not receive these documents five business days in advance.

This document contains information to help you understand your child’s rights, your rights and responsibilities, and the school’s responsibilities to meet the needs of your child. It also contains a description of the Child Find process, information about evaluation and eligibility, and information about the IEP process.

In this document you will find several examples of specific accommodations your child may receive through an IEP or 504 plan to allow access and success in school. The accommodation categories include grading, testing, classroom, and handwriting accommodations.

Here you will find information on the right parents have to Prior Written Notice when a decision is made in an IEP meeting. The document includes when it is necessary and what should be included in Prior Written Notice.

This document will answer questions about accessing yout child’s school records and what rights they have under the IDEA and FERPA laws.

In this document you will find information about how an IEP team makes the decision for eligibility for ESY (Extended School Year).

Learn about the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) process and developing a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP).