Heather Wright, M.Ed

School might be out (or almost out)...but there are things that we CAN do to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year.

The summer provides the opportunity for us to work on addressing concerns...that could be with an IEP Review or it could be drafting a formal request letter that can be sent when school starts. school starts. Or maybe you have been wanting to request an evaluation...we can work on that too!

Let’s get started now!

I can help!

The first step is to set up a free 30 minute phone consultation. www.heatherwrightconsultant.com

Having good grades doesn’t mean a child isn’t struggling. I hear this from parents constantly: their child is making B’s and C’s, maybe even A’s, but is completely exhausted by the end of every school day, needs hours of homework help, or is falling apart emotionally just to keep up.

Having good grades doesn’t mean a child isn’t struggling. I hear this from parents constantly: their child is making B’s and C’s, maybe even A’s, but is completely exhausted by the end of every school day, needs hours of homework help, or is falling apart emotionally just to keep up.

That is not “fine.” That is a child working twice as hard to perform at grade level.

A school can’t deny a special education evaluation simply because a child is passing. Eligibility is not just about grades…it looks at how a disability impacts their education, not just academics.

A child who is burning out, anxious, or only succeeding because of significant outside support deserves to be looked at more closely.

You have the right to request a full evaluation in writing, and the school must respond. Grades are one small piece of a much bigger picture.

Put “EVALUATE” in the comments and I’ll send you a free editable template on how to request a special education evauation.

Having an IEP doesn’t automatically mean your child is getting what they need.

Goals can be vague.

Progress reports can be confusing.

Sometimes the supports written into the plan aren’t actually moving your child forward.

If your child has an IEP and is still struggling significantly, it may be time to look closely at whether the goals are meaningful, whether the services are appropriate, and whether the placement is the right fit.

A document doesn’t help a child…implementation does.




Comment “IEP REVIEW” below and let’s talk about whether your child’s plan is actually working for them.

www.heatherwrightconsultant.com

“My child’s doctor said they need an IEP.”

I love that doctors are advocating for their patients, but here’s something important every parent should know:

A doctor cannot prescribe or guarantee an IEP.

A diagnosis from a doctor (ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, etc.) is valuable information, but it doesn’t automatically qualify a child for special education services.

Here’s how it works:
📋 The school conducts its own evaluation and considers the outside information
📋 A team(including you) reviews the results
📋 Together, the team determines if the disability has adverse educational impact
📋 If yes, eligibility is determined and then an IEP is developed

A diagnosis is one piece of data. The school’s job is to look at the whole picture.

💡 If your child has a diagnosis and is struggling in school, the next step might be to request a school evaluation, in writing.

Need help? Schedule a free consultation with me. www.heatherwrightconsultant.com

I jumped on the bandwagon!

Not too bad! Coffee, paperwork, and advocating for what students deserve.

www.heatherwrightconsultant.com

Please complete the survey if you were affected!

Katie Beckett Coverage Disruption Impact Survey This survey is being collected to understand the impact of a recent Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) system issue affecting Katie Beckett eligibility. Responses will be shared in aggregate with DCH and state legislators to advocate for immediate fixes and protections. Individual stories....

As we step into 2026, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the families who have trusted me to walk alongside them.

Advocacy looks different for every family, and my work always begins by meeting you exactly where you are…whether you’re just starting to ask questions or navigating a complex IEP.

I look forward to another year of listening, collaborating, and supporting families as we work together to ensure students receive the support they require to thrive.

I wanted to send a friendly reminder….if you DM me for support, I might not see the message or get notified that I have a message.

If you are reaching out for support, the best way to get ahold of me is by visiting my website (www.heatherwrightconsultant.com).

I don’t want to miss anyone’s messages and if I don’t respond, it is not intentional.

Thank you for your continued support!

Edward couldn’t sculpt without his scissors.

Likewise, IEP teams can’t accurately measure a child’s growth without raw data to support what’s written on the progress report.

If you’re not sure how progress is being tracked, ask to see samples of the data that show your child’s progress toward each goal — because meaningful progress should be seen, not just reported.