This web site has the latest information about IDEA to answer the following questions: What is special education? Who is eligible for special education? How can my child become eligible? What is the evaluation process? What is an IEP? Who develops my child's IEP? What happens during an IEP meeting? Can my child's IEP be changed? Is the school responsible for reaching the IEP goals? What if I disagree about what is right for my child?

Sample letters that a parent can write can be found here. There are letters including:

• notice to the school district that the student may be a child with special education needs,
• request to begin an evaluation and the IEP process,
  
• notice to the school district that the parent will be moving the student to another placement,
  
• request for the school district to pay for an alternative program or placement,
  
• summary of a meeting where there was disagreement
• request for mediation
• request for a due process hearing
• filing a complaint with the Department of Education
• a positive feedback letter
  

Contact info: NICHCY P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013 (800) 695-0285 7 v/tty (202) 884-8441 7 fax www.nichcy.org