FAPE

, ,

Understanding Special Education Test Scores - Part 1: Intelligence Tests

, ,
Understanding Special Education Test Scores - Part 1: Intelligence Tests

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) an IEP must be "reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive an educational benefit.” This is sometimes called the Free Appropriate Public Education standard or “FAPE” An "educational benefit" must be more than trivial, meaning the IEP and services must be calculated to enable the student to make "meaningful and effective progress commensurate with his or her educational potential"

Standardized cognitive / intellectual assessments provide one widely-accepted way to assess a child’s potential. The following are a list of common evaluation tools with links to descriptions of the tests:

, ,

FAPE During School Closures

, ,
FAPE During School Closures

The special education landscape has changed dramatically in the past few weeks due to COVID-19 related closures. At first, state and federal agencies were asserting that schools need not provide any special education services if they did not provide any educational services at all to any student. This position was flawed and frankly wrong. In response, we joined with civil rights advocates from across the country to ensure students’ rights to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). As part of these efforts, we joined with other leaders and submitted this letter to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). A few days later we spoke directly with the Education Commissioner and explained even in these challenging circumstances the right to a FAPE is remains.

, , ,

Attorney Wong & Andover Family Prevail at BSEA

, , ,
Attorney Wong & Andover Family Prevail at BSEA

On July 9, 2018, the Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA") ruled that the Andover Public Schools ("Andover") had violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") by failing to offer a nine-year-old boy with dyslexia an Individualized Education Plan ("IEP") that provided a Free Appropriate Public Education ("FAPE"). The BSEA ordered Andover to reimburse the family for their costs of unilaterally placing their son at the Landmark School and found that the student continued to require intensive, specialized instruction in a fully-subseparate language-based program.

, , ,

2017 Year in Review

, , ,
2017 Year in Review

2017 was an eventful year in the world of special education. At the national level, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Endrew F., its first special education case in over thirty years.  The unanimous Court held that FAPE requires a school to offer an IEP that is “reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances."   The Court further emphasized that “every child should have a chance to meet challenging objectives.”  

Wong & Boscarine LLC

P: (857) 529-8494
F: (617) 334-7306
info@wongboscarine.com

 

Cambridge Office
One Mifflin Place, Suite 400
Cambridge, MA 02138

Topsfield Office
15 Morningside Drive
Topsfield, MA 01983