Best FAPE Podcasts (2025)

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Ask the Advocate: Recording IEP Meetings, Paras, Inclusion, FAPE & Out-of-District Placement 1:02:37

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7d ago1:02:37

1:02:37

This week’s Ask the Advocate is a fast-paced Q&A covering what parents and educators are dealing with right now: staffing shortages, messy “tier” conversations, behavior needs being dismissed, and districts trying to move too fast (or stall completely) when the child needs support. 🧑‍🏫 Staffing, Paras, and “Who’s Allowed to Do What” Sub paras place…

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Behavior Is Communication: Safety, Structure & Relationship with John Vergara 44:53

7h ago44:53

44:53

What if we stopped calling kids “difficult”… and started getting honest about what difficult behavior is really communicating? In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with John Vergara (aka The Difficult Student) — an assistant principal over special education and one of the most impactful voices online when it comes to behavior, leade…

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Ask the Advocate: Truancy, One-to-One Aides, LRE, and The Epic IEP Book 53:36

14d ago53:36

53:36

In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, answers rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates—and shares how her new book, The Epic IEP, gives you a clear roadmap to write and understand an IEP that actually serves the child. Karen and Cindy dig into real situations from the IEP/504 table, inc…

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Ask the Advocate: IEP Data, 504 vs IEP, Behavior, RTI, and Comp Time Q&A 56:47

23d ago56:47

56:47

What do you do when the school’s “data” makes no sense, your child is stuck on a 504 instead of an IEP, or behavior is being blamed on your student instead of addressed in the plan? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, is answering rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and paras who are in th…

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Cold Reads Don’t Lie: An Epic IEP Story Every Parent Needs to Hear 6:19

23d ago6:19

6:19

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where the school’s data didn’t match what the student could actually do at home. And the difference wasn’t small. Karen walks through why she always brings her own data to th…

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When Vision Minutes Go Wrong: How to Use Data to Fix an Epic IEP 6:36

1M ago6:36

6:36

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is going to be a little bit longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a story that is funny, frustrating, fantastic, and absolutely essential for anyone sitting at an IEP table. Karen walks you through a real meeting where a student with a vision impa…

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Why Disagreement Isn’t Disrespect: A Real IEP Story 5:37

1M ago5:37

5:37

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, shares a real IEP meeting where everything was “fine”… until the parent disagreed. And that’s when things got interesting. Karen breaks down how a simple request — adding general education as an implement…

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Epic IEP Meetings Gone Wild: Services, LRE, Vision Minutes & Telling the Truth About Data 7:12

1M ago7:12

7:12

Today’s episode of The Epic IEP™ is a little longer — but you’re going to want to hear this. Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, breaks down a real IEP story that starts with “she’s doing fantastic” and ends with a fourth grader reading 13 words correct per minute and a team refusing resource for five meetings straight. If you’ve e…

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When “She’s Doing Fantastic” Isn’t True: The Resource Room Fight Every Parent Faces 7:11

1M ago7:11

7:11

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic—because they really happen at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, breaks down one of the most common battles in special education: getting a student the actual services they need. This fourth gr…

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“He Has a Disability Every Day”: The Schedule-of-Services Fight You Won’t Believe 6:30

1M ago6:30

6:30

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic — because they really happen at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks into what should have been a routine meeting… and instead ends up in a debate about whether a student needs support ever…

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“You Wanted This!”: When a Teacher Flips Out in an IEP Meeting 5:09

1M ago5:09

5:09

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share stories that are funny, frustrating, and absolutely fantastic—because they really happened at the IEP table. In today’s episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks into what should have been a simple progress-review meeting… and instead gets blamed for everything from eligibility to …

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The ESY Myth That Stops Services: Why “Regression Only” Is Wrong 6:11

1M ago6:11

6:11

Welcome back to The Epic IEP™, where we share real stories from the IEP table — the fantastic, the frustrating, and the downright funny. In today's episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, walks you through a 6:20 AM Zoom meeting that was supposed to be “quick and easy”… until it wasn’t. A visually impaired and orthopedically impai…

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What Schools Miss About ADA, Access & the Law 7:10

1M ago7:10

7:10

Welcome to Tales from The Epic IEP™ — real stories that are funny, frustrating, and fantastic from the IEP table. In this debut episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, shares one of the most jaw-dropping meetings she’s ever attended — a story that reminds every parent, teacher, and advocate why facts, not feelings, win meetings. W…

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From MTSS to the IEP Table: What Schools Aren’t Teaching (Hope, Clarity & The Epic IEP) 37:18

2M ago37:18

37:18

“I assumed everyone at the table understood the law… until I learned they didn’t.” In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss®) and Cindy unpack what really happens between MTSS, eligibility, and the IEP—and why so many well-meaning educators and parents are working from bad training, not bad intent. You’ll hear C…

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You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know — But You Need To 36:34

1M ago36:34

36:34

You don’t know what you don’t know — but you need to. In this Clips from TikTok Live episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham (Special Education Boss®) answers real questions from parents, teachers, and advocates—linking every answer back to federal requirements, not opinions. What we cover: When 1:1 paras help short-term—and why they don’t fix instruction …

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Actionable IEPs, Real Evaluations, and Your Epic IEP Playbook 36:18

2M ago36:18

36:18

This episode dives deep into The Epic IEP—the practical, step-by-step playbook every parent, teacher, and advocate needs. Karen and Cindy unpack what’s inside (including built-in QR codes for templates, guides, and ongoing tools) and answer powerful questions from the community. Inside This Episode: How The Epic IEP serves as your outline for meeti…

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Q&A: One-to-One Aides, Bullying, Transportation, and Real IEP Strategy 33:33

2M ago33:33

33:33

This Q&A gets practical fast—how to think about one-to-one aides, what to do when bullying pushes a student out of a class they love, how accommodations must be delivered (without kids “asking”), and why “emergency placements” and mass homebound aren’t a thing under IDEA. Direct, clear, actionable—just how we like it. What we cover: One-to-one aide…

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Medical Diagnosis vs. IDEA Eligibility + Live Q&A 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Does a medical diagnosis guarantee an IEP? Not under IDEA. Today, Karen breaks down medical diagnosis vs. educational eligibility—and why the IEP team makes the call based on educational impact and specially designed instruction, not just a doctor’s note. Then we dive into your Q&A: ADHD suspensions in K, Tourette’s (OHI), MDRs & safety, private sc…

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Due Process Hearings 101: Timelines, Exhibits, and Winning with Data 38:25

2M ago38:25

38:25

If you ever land in a due process hearing, your documents become your voice. In today’s SEB Live Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down how hearings actually work—resolution sessions, mediation, exhibits (joint, petitioner, and respondent), witnesses, timelines—and why clean, consistent documentation is the difference between overwhelm and outcome…

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Live Q&A: Hard Truths, Real Questions, and Why The Epic IEP Changes Everything 58:26

2M ago58:26

58:26

Karen shares why she wrote The Epic IEP, who it’s for, and how this book delivers a clear roadmap for parents, educators, and advocates to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes — without guesswork, confusion, or misinformation. 💬 Inside this episode: Who The Epic IEP is really for (and why every teacher, parent, and advocate needs it) …

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Live Q&A: The Heart, Humor, and Hard Truths Behind The Epic IEP 53:44

2M ago53:44

53:44

Welcome back, y’all! In this Special Education Boss® episode, we’re taking you inside our Live conversation about the launch of The Epic IEP — my brand-new, world-changing book written for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process. Grab your latte and lean in as we talk about: ☕️ The story behind The Epic IEP — and …

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Can the School Do That? 18:59

2M ago18:59

18:59

What happens when you find yourself asking, “Can the school do that?” In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — Special Education Boss and author of The Epic IEP — breaks down one of the most common (and frustrating) questions in special education. Karen explains the difference between what schools can do, what they should do, and what’s legally en…

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Who Is The Epic IEP For? | Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham 14:38

2M ago14:38

14:38

Who did Karen Mayer Cunningham write The Epic IEP for—and why? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen opens up about the heart and mission behind her brand-new book, The Epic IEP—a powerful, actionable playbook for parents, educators, and advocates who sit at the IEP table. For nearly three decades, Karen has trained thousands to navigat…

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SEA Podcast | Remote & Virtual Services in Your IEP (+ Q&A) 43:05

2M ago43:05

43:05

Are districts allowed to require teletherapy or virtual delivery for your child’s IEP services? Today, I’m unpacking what IDEA actually requires about how services are delivered—and why “remote-only” isn’t a blanket substitute for direct, in-person services when schools are open. We walk through the federal requirements (34 CFR §300.320/.324) in pl…

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Homework, IEPs & Questions of the Day 13:49

2M ago13:49

13:49

Is homework required by law? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — breaks down one of the most common questions families bring to the IEP table: “Is homework legal, and what happens when it causes more harm than help?” Karen explains what IDEA, ESSA, and state laws actually say about homework (spoiler: nothing requ…

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Homework, 504s, and IEP Questions Answered 13:51

2M ago13:51

13:51

Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, trains everyone at the 504 and IEP table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. In this episode, she addresses one of the most common questions in special education: Is homework required for students with disabilities? From there, Karen answers a series of real-world Questions of the …

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Dismissing an IEP Team Member | Special Education Boss with Karen Mayer Cunningham 19:10

2M ago19:10

19:10

Can a parent dismiss a member of the IEP team? What if a related service provider says “nothing’s changing” — do they still have to attend? In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham explains who must attend every IEP meeting, when you can legally excuse someone, and how to protect your child’s educational rights when team m…

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What Goes in an IEP? Present Levels + Questions of the Day 16:56

2M ago16:56

16:56

What Goes in an IEP? Present Levels + Questions of the Day In this powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down exactly what belongs inside an IEP — and why understanding the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance is critical to getting it right for every child. Karen walks through the four required components of …

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IEP Progress, Evaluations, Behavior, and the Epic IEP Playbook | Ask the Advocate with Karen Mayer Cunningham 1:02:03

2M ago1:02:03

1:02:03

What do you do when your school refuses to test, your teacher isn’t certified, or your child’s IEP goals aren’t being met? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real parent and teacher questions about evaluations, progress reports, 504 Plans, IEP goals, behavioral supports, and everything in between—with humor, heart, and…

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Ask the Advocate: Paraprofessionals, IEP Myths, and the Truth About Special Education Law 58:26

2M ago58:26

58:26

n this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, dives deep into the questions flooding her inbox every week — from paraprofessionals and IEP goals to compensatory services, parent rights, and what really happens when the law isn’t followed. Joined by Cindy, Karen breaks down complex special education issues …

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EP Meeting Game Plan: Drafts, Present Levels, Goals, LRE & Services 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

Walking into an IEP meeting without a plan is how we end up tabling, redoing, and wasting time. In today’s TT Lunch Live, Karen lays out her exact meeting modality—what to request, what to review, and how to build an EPIC IEP that actually drives progress. What we cover: The four documents Karen always has open: last FIE, 36 weeks of progress repor…

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Panel Q&A: Real Special Education Scenarios Every Parent and Advocate Needs to Hear 12:15

2M ago12:15

12:15

Join Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, for a powerful panel Q&A and discussion covering real special education questions from parents, advocates, and professionals across the country. In this open conversation, Karen tackles critical issues facing families and educators — from IEP rights to retaliation policies, advanced classes,…

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Live Q&A: Real IEP Scenarios, Parent Rights & Special Education Solutions 10:37

2M ago10:37

10:37

What happens when real parents and educators bring real IEP and 504 questions to the table? In this Live Q&A episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers rapid-fire questions straight from families and professionals navigating the special education process. From 504 Plans and IEP violations to placement decisions, behavior …

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Paraprofessionals, 504 vs IEP, PWN, and Back-to-School Prep 27:08

3M ago27:08

27:08

In this Ask The Advocate session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions on everything from paraprofessionals and “direct supervision” to prior written notice (PWN), Child Find, reconvenes, data access, and how to handle placements when needs don’t match the setting. She also shares a quick update from Capitol Hill on IDEA funding and …

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Latte & Learn: DATA First, IEP Prep, Homeschool vs. Public School, and Rapid Q&A 28:43

3M ago28:43

28:43

Need a quick caffeine boost for your advocacy? In this Latte & Learn session, Karen Mayer Cunningham and Cindy dig into the “dirty four-letter word” in special education—DATA—and why decisions at the IEP table must be driven by it. You’ll hear real questions from parents and teachers on preschool IEP prep, paraprofessional roles, behavior supports,…

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Quick Rapid-Fire Q&A with Karen Mayer Cunningham 9:15

3M ago9:15

9:15

Ever wish you could ask Karen Mayer Cunningham all your special education questions — and get straight answers, fast? This episode is for you. 💥 Join Karen for a rapid-fire Q&A covering real parent and teacher questions about IEPs, 504s, paraprofessionals, behavior, homeschool transitions, private school rights, suspensions, and more. Karen brings …

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Do you know what to do once you receive your Full Individual Evaluation (FIE)? 7:36

3M ago7:36

7:36

By Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education boss®

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Time, Prep & Participation in IEP Meetings: How Parents Can Secure Their Rights 8:47

3M ago8:47

8:47

When it comes to IEP meetings, three key elements can make or break the process: Time, Prep, and Participation. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, unpacks what parents, educators, and advocates need to know to ensure these rights are respected. Too often, parents are told the meeting has already been scheduled, dr…

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Requesting a Full Individualized Evaluation: Time, Prep & Participation in IEPs 8:47

3M ago8:47

8:47

Parents often feel rushed, dismissed, or unprepared when it comes to IEP meetings—but under IDEA, you have rights that guarantee your time, preparation, and full participation. In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what she calls the TPP of IEPs: ✨ Time – Why IEP meetings must be scheduled at a mutually agre…

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Child Find Explained: How Schools Must Identify & Test Students Under IDEA 7:44

3M ago7:44

7:44

How do you know if your child is entitled to a special education evaluation? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, breaks down the Child Find mandate under IDEA (34 CFR §300.111) and what it means for families. 👉 If your child is struggling—academically, emotionally, behaviorally, or with memory, communication, or at…

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What Every Parent Needs to Know About IEEs, LRE, and IEP Minutes | Ask the Advocate 57:06

3M ago57:06

57:06

f your child’s IEP feels incomplete, confusing, or delayed—you are not alone. In this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles rapid-fire questions from parents, educators, and advocates facing real-world special education challenges. ✨ Inside this episode: What makes present levels “pristine, prescriptive, and puffy” (and why mo…

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Raising Confident Girls with Dr. Tiff Watson: Your Unique FIZEEK! 13:44

3M ago13:44

13:44

What if girls learned early that their identity sits on an unshakeable foundation—not a number on a scale or a grade on a test? In this conversation, Karen sits down with Dr. Tiff Watson—performance coach, sports psych pro, and author of Your Unique FIZEEK! A Girl’s Guide to Faith, Fuel, and Finding Your Superpowers—to talk food–mood connections, c…

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Ask the Advocate: Cell Phones, Resource Minutes, ESY, STAR Test & Tough IEP Questions 49:35

3M ago49:35

49:35

What happens when a school tries to take away a diabetic student’s cell phone used for monitoring? Or when IEP goals are written at only the 20th percentile? Or when districts “table” evaluation requests for months? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers rapid-fire questions from parents and tea…

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SDI = Special Education: The 3 Elements & Questions to Use in IEPs 37:33

3M ago37:33

37:33

SDI isn’t a buzzword—it’s the heart of special education. In this episode, Karen breaks down why special education = specially designed instruction (SDI), how SDI is different from accommodations, and the exact questions to ask in your IEP meeting to reveal what’s really being taught, how, by whom, and when. You’ll learn: Why SDI is instruction (no…

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Related Services 101: Physical Therapy, Psych Services, Counseling, Nursing & Social Work in IEPs 27:37

3M ago27:37

27:37

In this Related Services session, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what IDEA really says about services that support a student’s access to FAPE—and how schools should write and deliver them. What we cover: Physical Therapy in schools vs medical/therapeutic models (what PT is and isn’t in an IEP; realistic frequency and access needs) Psychological…

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Ask the Advocate: The Epic IEP™ Playbook Every Parent & Educator Needs 51:06

3M ago51:06

51:06

Karen Mayer Cunningham’s new book, The Epic IEP™: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates Navigating the Special Education Process, is here! 📚 This episode of Ask the Advocate is dedicated to unpacking why this book is a game-changer, how it equips parents, teachers, and advocates to sit confidently at the IEP/504 table, and what …

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Ask the Advocate: Dyslexia Progress, Music Therapy, 504 vs IEP, FAPE, and Tough School Scenarios 1:00:54

3M ago1:00:54

1:00:54

In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers your most pressing special education questions with clarity, humor, and straight-to-the-point strategies you can take to the IEP or 504 table. From dyslexia progress monitoring to behavior plans and field trip access, Karen reminds us: parents don’t have to…

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OSEP Letters, Part 2: The Truth About IEEs (Independent Educational Evaluations) 17:37

3M ago17:37

17:37

In Session 2 of our OSEP Letters series, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—breaks down Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs): what they are, when to request one, who chooses the evaluator, how districts must respond, and how to use OSEP guidance to keep your team compliant. Using the February 20, 2004 OSEP letter to Dr. Parker…

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Ask the Advocate: Recess Rights & Tough IEP Questions 59:09

3M ago59:09

59:09

Happy Monday, Advocates! In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—tackles another round of rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. From recess rights to PCS plans, and from tardy notes to 1:1 aides, Karen brings clarity, humor, and real strategies you can use in the …

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OSEP Letters, Part 1: Twice-Exceptional Students, SLD Eligibility & the End of “Severe Discrepancy” 26:01

3M ago26:01

26:01

Karen kicks off a multi-part series on must-know guidance letters from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Today’s focus: the Dec 20, 2013 letter about twice-exceptional (2e) students and how states may—and may not—determine Specific Learning Disability (SLD) eligibility under IDEA. What you’ll learn: Why high cognition does not d…