We’re back to school, and I’m not easing into anything. If your district is only giving parents “part of the draft,” if services are being missed because of staffing, or if someone is trying to use paraprofessionals to “cover” certified special education minutes—this episode is for you.

Tonight we cover what teams are required to do, what’s simply “district preference,” and the fastest way to bring meetings back to what they’re supposed to be: an efficient business meeting that protects student outcomes.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why giving parents only “part of the draft” is a red flag (and a bad long game)
• The truth about accountability: we’re not battling teachers—we’re holding districts responsible
• What the federal rules actually say about paraprofessionals (direct supervision, close proximity, frequent contact)
• What to do when your district “doesn’t have” a provider (and why compensatory services matter)
• When behavior rises above what general ed can support (hello, BIP)
• Tools I love for struggling readers: Learning Ally and Kurzweil

Want weekly training with us? Join the EPIC IEP Academy (Mondays) — your first month is FREE.
Go to: Special Education Academy → Training → EPIC IEP Academy
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Get the book (The EPIC IEP) on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom

Interested in hosting a stop on the EPIC IEP Book Tour (2026)?
Email: [email protected]
 

We’re educating you so you can show up prepared at the IEP/504 table.

“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham

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