Education Advocates of America

08/12/2026

💬 How do you talk to your child about their disability?

It's a conversation many parents worry about.

Will talking about it make them feel different? Will it hurt their confidence? Are they too young to understand?

But as children get older, they often already recognize that something is different. They may leave class for services, receive accommodations, need extra support, or notice that certain things seem harder for them than their peers.

Giving children honest, age-appropriate information can help them understand why they receive support without allowing their disability to define who they are.

In our newest blog, we're talking about how parents can:

• Start these conversations at any age
• Use positive but honest language
• Talk about strengths AND challenges
• Explain why they receive services and accommodations
• Build self-advocacy skills early
• Help children feel confident about their future

Your child's disability is part of their story. It doesn't have to define their story.

Read more: www.eduamerica.org/blog/talk-to-your-child-about-their-disability/

Education Advocates of America 8/10/26 Education Advocates of America 8/10/26 What Is Specially Designed Instruction? (And Why It's the Most Important Question You're Not Asking) Specially designed instruction is what makes special education truly individualized. Learn what SDI should look like in y...

08/11/2026

🚨 9 Back-to-School Special Education Myths Parents Need to Stop Believing

“If my child is getting good grades, they can't qualify for an IEP.”

“We have to wait until the annual IEP meeting.”

“The school has to wait until my child fails.”

“My child's teacher knows what's in the IEP, so I don't need to check.”

We hear these ALL the time.

And when special education myths get repeated often enough, they can start to sound like facts.

Our newest blog breaks down 9 common myths parents should know as the new school year begins, including IEP implementation, evaluations, accommodations, testing, teacher changes, and when parents can raise concerns.

The biggest takeaway? You don't have to wait until there's a major problem to start asking questions.

Read the full blog: www.eduamerica.org/blog/back-to-school-special-education-myths

Need help figuring out whether your child's IEP or 504 Plan is actually meeting their needs? Schedule a free consultation with Education Advocates of America.

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08/10/2026

Does your child’s IEP actually explain HOW they are being taught differently?

That’s where Specially Designed Instruction, or SDI, comes in.

Accommodations help a student ACCESS learning. SDI is the individualized instruction designed to actually TEACH the skills impacted by their disability.

And there’s a big difference.

In our newest blog, Brett Kraftson, former school psychologist and EAA advocate, breaks down SDI into three important questions:

✔️ WHAT is being taught differently?
✔️ HOW is it being taught?
✔️ WHEN and WHERE is that instruction happening?

If your child has an IEP, you should be able to get a clear answer when you ask:

“What is my child’s specially designed instruction?”

If the answer isn’t clear, it may be time to ask more questions.

Read the full blog here:
https://www.eduamerica.org/blog//blog/specially-designed-instruction-iep

Need help understanding whether your child’s IEP is actually meeting their needs? Schedule a free consultation with Education Advocates of America.

08/07/2026

🎒 The best time to hire an educational advocate isn't after something goes wrong—it's before school even starts.

Too often, families reach out after weeks or months of missed services, confusing IEP meetings, or ongoing struggles in the classroom.

But many of those issues can be prevented with a little preparation.

Before the first day of school, an advocate can help you:
✅ Review your child's IEP or 504 Plan
✅ Identify missing services or accommodations
✅ Prepare for upcoming IEP meetings
✅ Understand your rights
✅ Start the school year with confidence

You don't have to wait for a crisis to get support.

Read our latest blog to learn why early advocacy can make all the difference.

📖 Read the full blog here: www.eduamerica.org/blog/should-you-hire-an-educational-advocate-before-school-starts

08/05/2026

Have you ever brought concerns to your child's school only to hear, "Let's wait and see how things go"?

Sometimes that's a reasonable response. But sometimes, it's a delay that costs your child valuable time and support.

Here's what every parent should know:

✔️ "Wait and see" should NEVER mean "do nothing."
✔️ Ask exactly what supports and interventions will be provided during the waiting period.
✔️ Ask what data the school will collect, how often they'll collect it, and when the team will review it.
✔️ If you've requested an evaluation, schools cannot delay it simply because they want to "wait and see."

The right response isn't just waiting. It's having a clear plan, measurable data, and a timeline for next steps.

Don't leave a meeting wondering what happens now.

Read our latest blog to learn how to respond confidently when you hear, "Let's wait and see," and how to make sure your child's needs don't get put on hold.

👇 Read it here:
https://www.eduamerica.org/blog/when-the-school-says-wait-and-see

Have you ever been told to "wait and see"? We'd love to hear your experience in the comments.

Has your child's school said, "Let's wait and see"? Learn what questions to ask, your evaluation rights, and when it's time to request an IEP evaluation.

08/04/2026

📚 The simplest back-to-school tip that can make a BIG difference? Send a Parent Introduction Letter.

Before the first IEP meeting...
Before concerns come up...
Before your child has a difficult day...

Introduce your child to their teacher.

A thoughtful parent introduction letter helps educators get to know your child beyond the paperwork. Share:
✨ Their strengths
✨ What motivates them
✨ Triggers or challenges
✨ Communication preferences
✨ What success looks like for your child

Remember: Your child's IEP tells the school what services they need. A parent letter helps teachers understand who your child is.

Starting the year with a personal connection can set the tone for stronger communication and a more successful school year.

We've even included a FREE template you can customize in just a few minutes.

📖 Read the blog and download the template here:
www.eduamerica.org/blog/parentintroletter

💬 Have you ever written a parent introduction letter? We'd love to hear what you included!

08/03/2026

📄 Your child's IEP is more than just paperwork. It's a legally binding plan that guides their education.

Too many parents flip straight to the goals or service minutes and miss important details hidden in the rest of the document. But every page matters.

As you review your child's IEP this school year, ask yourself:
✅ Do the Present Levels accurately describe my child today?
✅ Do the goals address every area of need?
✅ Are the accommodations specific and practical?
✅ Does the progress monitoring explain how I'll know my child is making progress?
✅ Does everything in the plan work together?

Small details can have a big impact on the services and supports your child receives throughout the year. Taking the time to read every page can help you identify concerns before they become bigger problems.

Read our latest blog to learn what to look for before you sign your child's IEP.

📖 Read it here: https://www.eduamerica.org/blog/why-parents-should-read-every-page-of-the-iep

Don't file your child's IEP away without reading it. Learn why every page matters, what to review, and how catching mistakes early can protect your child's educational rights.

08/02/2026

Most parents have heard, "Your child is making progress."

But here's the question every parent should ask:

"Can you show me the baseline data?"

Baseline data is the starting point. Without it, there's no way to know whether your child is truly making meaningful progress toward their IEP goals or if they're simply participating in instruction.

Good baseline data should clearly answer:
✔️ What could my child do before instruction began?
✔️ How is progress being measured?
✔️ Is the data tied directly to the IEP goal?

If your child's IEP doesn't include clear baseline data, it's worth asking questions. Accurate data leads to better goals, better instruction, and better outcomes.

Read our latest blog to learn why baseline data is one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of an IEP.

📖 https://www.eduamerica.org/blog/baseline-data

07/31/2026

🎒 Is your child's IEP really ready for the new school year?

One of the biggest mistakes we see families make is waiting until the week before school starts to ask for help.

By then:
❌ Meeting schedules are packed.
❌ Timelines are tight.
❌ Small issues have become much bigger problems.

The best time to review your child's IEP, identify missing supports, and create a plan is before the school year begins. Summer gives you the opportunity to make thoughtful decisions instead of scrambling at the last minute.

If something about your child's IEP or 504 Plan doesn't feel right, trust your instincts. A proactive review now can make all the difference in how the school year starts.

📖 Read our latest blog: "Don't Wait Until August to Hire an Advocate"

https://www.eduamerica.org/blog/hiring-advocate

💬 Have questions? Schedule a FREE consultation with our team. We're here to help your family start the school year with confidence.

Hiring an educational advocate early can prevent crises and protect your child’s educational progress. Learn how proactive advocacy supports strong IEPs or 504 plans, ensures appropriate services from the start, strengthens collaboration with schools, and helps families understand their rights bef...

07/29/2026

Changing schools? Don't let your child's services fall through the cracks.

Many parents are told they'll have to "wait until after school starts" for an IEP or 504 meeting. But did you know your child may be entitled to comparable services from day one?

In our latest blog, we explain:
✅ What comparable services are
✅ How they apply to IEPs and 504 Plans
✅ Whether the school can delay services
✅ What you can do to protect your child's rights during a school transfer

A new school shouldn't mean starting over.

Read the full blog here: https://www.eduamerica.org/blog/understanding-comparable-services-school-transfer

Learn what "comparable services" mean when a child with an IEP or 504 Plan transfers to a new school district. Understand your rights under IDEA and Section 504 and how to ensure your child's supports continue without interruption.