Help for Administrators: Working with Advocates to Solve Administrative ProblemsPresented by KPS4Parents, Inc.Copyright 2009, KPS4Parents, Inc.All rights reserved.

DisclaimersNo continuing education credits are currently available for viewing this presentation.The content of this presentation is based on the professional opinions and experiences of lay advocates and should not be construed as formal legal advice.Consult a qualified attorney for formal legal advice.

Understanding AdvocatesSpecial education lay advocacy is an unregulated fieldNo educational requirementsNo professional standardsNo certification or licensureNot all advocates are equal in skill and diplomacy

Understanding AdvocatesMany lay advocates are parents of special needs children who have learned “the system” the hard way and are now looking to help others through the processSome lay advocates also work as paralegals under special education attorneys

Understanding AdvocatesA good advocate is not looking to be your adversary but is rather looking to solve problems.A good advocate understands the challenges you face as an administrator in addition to the obligations you must fulfill under the law.

Understanding AdvocatesA good advocate seeks to facilitate constructive collaborations between families and public education agency personnel for the benefit of students.A good advocate understands the necessity of making the record and giving your agency appropriate notice.

How Good Advocates Can HelpIssue: Emotional parents who easily become upset during IEP meetings and in encounters with teachers & staff.Advocate Solution: Parent training and consultation on basic rights and responsibilities and advocate representation in IEP meetings and correspondence regarding individual student needs.

How Good Advocates Can HelpAdministrator Benefits – More orderly IEP meetings Rational dialogue that moves things toward a solutionFacilitation of problem-solving between the school and familyTimely legal notice of parent concerns and actions

How Good Advocates Can HelpIssue: Personnel who refuse to comply with the regulations and then call their union reps whenever they get into trouble.Advocate Solution: Compliance complaint, personnel complaint, or letter detailing violations written directly to the offending personnel on behalf of student’s family and copied to the school board.

How Good Advocates Can HelpAdministrator Benefits – The advocate becomes the heavy, not the DistrictThe threat of litigation or formal complaints by a student over violations of special education law generally trumps an employee’s attempts to abuse his/her union protectionsThe District can usually put petty bickering with a non-compliant employee to a quick end and bring the District back into compliance

How Good Advocates Can HelpIssue: The school board does not understand that a particular expenditure is necessary to keep the District in compliance with special education law and refuses to approve it.Advocate Solution: A letter to the District administration or board or a complaint to regulators detailing the violation and requesting appropriate remedy.

How Good Advocates Can HelpAdministrator Benefits – Administration's guidance to the board regarding the expenditure is validatedBoard will likely approve the expenditure, bringing the District into complianceAdvocate can negotiate agreement on behalf of family to lay the past to rest

Cultivating Good Working Relationships with AdvocatesDon’t presume that all advocates are alikeTake the time to get to know the advocates who work with the families in your DistrictLet advocates know when something they have done has cleared a bureaucratic bottleneck or resolved a stalemateCollaborate with advocates to identify solutions when faced with systemic issues

Thank You!KPS4Parents thanks you for your participation in this presentation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@kps4parents.org.Visit us online at: http://www.kps4parents.orgSee our blog at: http://www.kps4parents.org/blog