Aimed at parents of and advocates for special needs children, explains how to develop a relationship with a school, monitor a child's progress, understand relevant legislation, and document correspondence and conversations.

The federal government has direct responsibility for two school systems serving elementary and secondary students the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) school systems. Unlike public schools, where federal funding constitutes a small portion of total resources, the BIA and DOD school systems depend almost entirely on federal funds. Although the two school systems have this feature in common, their histories and settings are quite different. Because these school systems are a federal responsibility, the Congress is interested in ensuring that children attending BIA and DOD schools are receiving a quality education.

Be your child's best advocate! Children with special needs who succeed in school have one thing in common--their parents are passionate and effective advocates. It's not an easy job, but with The Everything Parent's Guide to Special Education, you will learn how to evaluate, prepare, organize, and get quality services, no matter what your child's disability. This valuable handbook gives you the tools you need to navigate the complex world of special education and services, with information on: Assessment and evaluation Educational needs for different disabilities, including multiple disabilities Current law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Working within the school system to create an IEP The importance of keeping detailed records Dealing with parent-school conflict With worksheets, forms, and sample documents and letters, you can be assured that you'll have all you need to help your child thrive--in school and in life!

A review of legislation that establishes eligibility and authorizes funding for students to enroll in Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS) as space-available; identifies the number of students enrolled as space-available and their locations; and explains the circumstances surrounding high space-available enrollments in some schools. Interviewed officials at DODDS headquarters, two regional offices, and nine district offices and visited selected schools to clarify policies and procedures. Charts, tables and graphs.