What Parents Should Do When Schools Don’t Follow the IEP | Ask the Advocate

Parents, teachers, and advocates ask hundreds of questions every week about special education. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real questions submitted during a live TikTok session about IEP meetings, services, evaluations, and advocacy. If you’ve ever wondered what to do when a school is not following the IEP, when a student qualifies for Extended School Year (ESY), or how to become a special education advocate, this episode walks through real scenarios happening in schools right now. Karen Mayer Cunningham, also known as the Special Education Boss®, trains parents, educators, and advocates to navigate the IEP and 504 process and advocate effectively for students with disabilities. You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to. Questions Answered in This Episode • What should parents do if an IEP is not being implemented? • Can schools reduce IEP services without data? • When does a child qualify for Extended School Year (ESY)? • How do you become a special education advocate? • What role do paraprofessionals play in special education? Resources Mentioned Join The Epic IEP™ Academy https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/ Attend the 2-Day Special Education Advocacy Intensive https://advocate.specialeducationacademy.com/virtual-ip/ Get the book The Epic IEP™ https://amzn.to/3Ll0Dos We are not giving legal advice. We are educating you. We train everyone at the IEP/504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. — Karen Mayer Cunningham special education advocate, IEP help, IEP meeting tips, special education rights, IDEA law, special education podcast, parent advocate, IEP meeting advice, extended school year ESY, compensatory services, prior written notice IEP