We have a student who has an educational advocate (a lawyer). We scheduled an MDT meeting and held it, with the parent's participation. The advocate is very unhappy. Is it the school's responsibility to schedule the advocate's participation, or the parent's? We do not have it in writing that all meetings should be scheduled throught the advocate.
2006-08-04 02:43:01 · 8 answers · asked by mdouglas_glc 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
It's the right and responsibility of the parents to invite the advocate. If the parents want the school to accept the responsibility of inviting others, then they should request that this be noted on the IEP document and sign off on it. You could do this as an addendum, and it might be good politics to make the parents and advocate feel that their concerns are being listened to.
2006-08-04 07:26:05 · answer #1 · answered by sonomanona 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would usually be the parent's responsiblity to invite their child's representative. It is nice when the school district invites everyone, but realistically, they can't remember everyone who is involved in every case. If the parents were concerned about their child being adequately represented, they should have invited their counsel themselves. However, if the meeting was scheduled on short notice or not at the parent's best time, maybe the advocate was an oversight if the parent's were rushed. In either case, it is the parent's ultimate determination if the goals set for their child are to their standards. If they are ok with the outcome of the meeting, then the advocate has to respect their wishes... after all, he is representing them. If they have an issue (or the advocate brings up something they didn't think to ask for) then they can schedule another IEP at their convenience.
2006-08-04 13:12:59 · answer #2 · answered by dolphin mama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your notice of meeting to the parent form should cover you by stating something to the effect that they may bring any interested/relevant party to the meeting.
I would invite no one who is not school staff other than the parent because this could be a breach of confidentiality. And, if they already have an advocate they're obviously already looking to catch you making some error.
Ugghh! I'd rather see an attorney show up than an advocate. Attorneys actually know what they're doing and are typically professional whereas many advocates are only looking to put on a good show at the meeting in order to get more money out of an already emotionally distraught parent, or they are in someway emotionally vested because of a prior experience with their own child.
2006-08-05 13:45:29 · answer #3 · answered by Layla Clapton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is the parents' responsibility to invite the advocate. Our district generally will call us and let us know who will be invited and ask if we have anyone that they should include. For example, our son was attending a social skills group outside of school and the facilitator for the group had some great insight, so we invited her.
Personally, I think that if the district is aware of that the family has an advocate, it would be a positive and proactive move on their part to invite the advocate without "making" the parent do it.
2006-08-04 15:39:36 · answer #4 · answered by blackmojo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the parent's responsibility to invite their child's advocate. However, being the child's case manager you should be aware if the child has one, and yes it would be good politics to ask the parents if they will be bringing the advocate along. You have to understand that as the student's IEP team all of you have to work together to do what is best for the student. I would call the advocate or if you aren't comfortable with that have your admin. call them and just explain that you thought the parents would invite them, but next time you will give them a courtesy call and that you look forward to working with them. Hopefully this will smooth things over....good luck!
2006-08-05 08:01:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son does not have an educational advocate. However, we have attended numerous IEP's and if we wanted someone other than the school's staff to attend, it was our responsibility as the parents to invite them; not the schools.
2006-08-04 02:51:30 · answer #6 · answered by desertlily73 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if the school has prior knowledge of an advocate, then they may have to invite them
However..My letters to the parents, inviting them to the meeting, clearly state that they may bring anyone with them...Do your letters indicate this?
2006-08-04 03:09:14 · answer #7 · answered by TP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the last IEP scheduled by the school, I had to return an acceptance notice which I included who else beside myself that will be attending.
2006-08-04 18:51:47 · answer #8 · answered by timer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋