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 enforceable under IDEA and FAPE. Drawing from nearly three decades of advocacy experience and thousands of IEP meetings, she shares why focusing on “what’s next” is far more powerful than asking “why did they do that?”

You’ll learn:
✅ When a school’s actions cross the line from wrong to unlawful
✅ How to use your procedural safeguards to take effective next steps
✅ What makes a strong state complaint or OCR complaint
✅ Why special education isn’t just a program — it’s a civil right
✅ How to keep the focus on solutions, not frustration

Karen also answers real questions from parents and educators on:

• IEP disagreements and signatures
• Privacy violations by staff
• Inclusion and self-contained models
• Adaptive PE and 504 confusion

📘 Order the book: The Epic IEP — your powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates navigating the special education process.
👉 Order on Amazon
Then visit TheEpicIEP.com
to claim $500 in exclusive bonuses!

💡 Join The Academy:
The EPIC IEP Academy is the premier weekly professional development community training parents, educators, and advocates to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes — in real time.
👉 Join here

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✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨

👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®
Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.

👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!
🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources
🔗 Learn more at The Academy

📬 Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

📱 Follow Karen on:

• TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
• YouTube: Special Education Academy

🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?
Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence.

📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl
(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)

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