IEP Strong Advocacy and Support by Ann Kippes LLC

IEP Strong Advocacy and Support by Ann Kippes LLC Is your child's IEP working and are they showing growth and progression while getting the services and accommodations they need?

I've been on all sides of the IEP table: Mom, Special Education Teacher, ARD facilitator and now as your ADVOCATE.

What a positive ARD meeting today! I truly appreciated working alongside Seguin ISD's new Executive Director of Special ...
09/11/2026

What a positive ARD meeting today! I truly appreciated working alongside Seguin ISD's new Executive Director of Special Education, Joshua Kohutek.
His involvement, openness, and genuine interest in getting to know the student and his grandmother set such a positive tone.

A big thank you as well to Mr.
DeRemer, Special Education Teacher/Case Manager, and 5th-grade teacher Danielle Nix. It was wonderful to leave the meeting feeling heard, supported, and excited about the year ahead for this kiddo. Grandma cried in the parking lot because she was so proud and happy about the success of the meeting today!

09/04/2026

Tanner Smith from Love on the Spectrum meeting Jack Black on The Kelly Clarkson Show. 😢❤️

First high school meeting of the year — and what a way to start. 💜Yesterday was one of those meetings that reminds me ho...
08/27/2026

First high school meeting of the year — and what a way to start. 💜

Yesterday was one of those meetings that reminds me how powerful the right team can be when everyone comes to the table focused on the same thing — the student.

A huge shoutout to Tracy Guetzke, Behavior Specialist; Rene Armendariz, Assistant Principal & Campus Behavior Coordinator (📣 shoutout two years in a row, Mr. Armendariz 😂); and Allison Utz, Case Manager.

Each brought something different and equally important to the table — knowledge, consistency, accountability, support, and a genuine commitment to seeing this student succeed.

This student is starting the year with a whole lot of people in his corner, and I walked out feeling incredibly good about where we are headed.

That’s what a strong IEP team should feel like. 💜

Great first meeting, Navarro!

❤️ RESOURCE #10 — AND FINAL! — THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE IS YOUWe made it to #10! 😂🙌If you’ve actually followed alon...
08/25/2026

❤️ RESOURCE #10 — AND FINAL! — THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE IS YOU

We made it to #10! 😂🙌

If you’ve actually followed along through all ten of these posts, congratulations — you may now know more special education acronyms than you ever wanted to know. 😂

But there was a reason for this series.

Special education can be a lot. The paperwork, meetings, acronyms, evaluations, goals, data and laws can make it tempting to say, “Someone else just tell me what to do.”

And sometimes you absolutely need help.

But my goal as an advocate isn’t for a family to need an advocate for their child’s entire educational journey.

❤️ My goal is to help families become strong, informed members of their child’s team.

You don’t have to learn everything at once.

Learn one thing.
Ask one more question.
Understand one more page of the IEP.
Look at the data.
Know what you agreed to.
Speak up when something isn’t working.

🌱 Little by little, those seeds grow.

And to the teachers, administrators, service providers and other professionals who have followed along too — thank you.

Strong families and strong schools aren’t opposing sides.

When families understand the process, educators listen, everyone communicates, and the team keeps the focus where it belongs:

❤️ the student.

So yes… WE MADE IT TO #10! 🎉

But hopefully the learning doesn’t stop here.

Strong families. Strong schools. Strong teams.

❤️ That’s IEP Strong.

📊 RESOURCE #9 — IEP PROGRESS REPORTSYour child’s progress report says:“Making progress.”Great! But… how much progress?I...
08/25/2026

📊 RESOURCE #9 — IEP PROGRESS REPORTS

Your child’s progress report says:

“Making progress.”

Great! But… how much progress?

IEP progress reporting should tell you how your child is progressing toward their measurable annual goals — not simply whether they are passing their classes.

When you receive one, look for:

📍 Where did my child start?
📊 What does the current data show?
🎯 Where are they expected to be by the end of the IEP year?
⏳ Are they progressing fast enough to reasonably reach that goal?

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

The IEP should state when progress reports will be provided.

If the typical reporting schedule isn’t frequent enough for your child’s needs, you can ask the ARD committee to consider more frequent progress reporting and put the agreed-upon frequency in the IEP.

For example, you might request:

“Written progress toward annual IEP goals will be provided to the parent every four weeks and will include current measurable data for each goal.”

That way, you aren’t waiting until the end of a long grading period to discover your child isn’t progressing as expected.

❤️ Don’t just ask:

“Is my child making progress?”

Ask:

📊 “What does the data show?”

📅 “How often will you show me?”

📘 RESOURCE #8 — DELIBERATIONS vs. PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE (PWN)They are not the same thing — and sometimes you want inform...
08/25/2026

📘 RESOURCE #8 — DELIBERATIONS vs. PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE (PWN)

They are not the same thing — and sometimes you want information documented in both.

🗣️ DELIBERATIONS = What happened in the ARD

This is where the important discussion is captured — including parent concerns and requests, information considered, areas of disagreement, and committee decisions.

📄 PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE = What the district proposes or refuses to do — and WHY

When PWN is required, the district must explain its decision, including why it made that decision, what information it relied on, and other options it considered and rejected.

Example:

A parent requests an FBA because their child’s behavior has significantly increased.

➡️ Deliberations: Document the parent’s request, concern and important discussion surrounding it.

➡️ PWN: If the district refuses an IDEA-covered request, PWN explains the refusal and the basis for that decision.

❤️ Don’t think Deliberations OR PWN.

Sometimes you need BOTH.

One records the conversation.
One explains the decision.

🚨 RESOURCE #7 — WHEN TALKING TO THE SCHOOL ISN’T FIXING THE PROBLEMDid you know Texas parents have formal options when ...
08/25/2026

🚨 RESOURCE #7 — WHEN TALKING TO THE SCHOOL ISN’T FIXING THE PROBLEM

Did you know Texas parents have formal options when they believe their child’s special education rights are not being followed?

If you have tried asking questions, sending emails, requesting meetings or addressing concerns with the school — and the problem continues — you may have additional options.

One of those is filing a Special Education Complaint with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

A complaint may be appropriate when you believe special education requirements have not been followed, such as concerns involving:

📌 Your child’s IEP not being implemented
📌 Required services not being provided
📌 Special education timelines or procedures not being followed
📌 Other possible violations of special education requirements

You do not have to know all the legal language to start learning about your options.

❤️ Knowing where to go when something isn’t being fixed is part of knowing your rights.

🧰 TEXAS SPED RESOURCES FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW — RESOURCE #6🔎 CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING OR DEVELOPMENT?You do ...
08/25/2026

🧰 TEXAS SPED RESOURCES FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW — RESOURCE #6

🔎 CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING OR DEVELOPMENT?

You do NOT have to wait for the school to suggest a special education evaluation. A parent can request one.

Maybe your child is struggling with reading, communication, behavior, attention, academics, development or another area and you’re wondering:

“Is there something more going on?”

You don’t need to have the answer before asking the school to look deeper.

💡 ADVOCACY TIP

If you believe your child may need an initial special education evaluation, make your request IN WRITING and keep a copy.

In Texas, when a written request for an initial evaluation is submitted to the district’s special education director or an administrative employee, such as the principal, the district generally has 15 school days to either:

✓ Give you written notice proposing to evaluate and ask for your consent

OR

✓ Give you written notice explaining why it is refusing to evaluate.

⭐ IMPORTANT

A school should not delay or deny an evaluation of a child suspected of having a disability simply because the child is participating in RTI/MTSS or other interventions.

Texas has FREE parent resources explaining:

• How to request an evaluation
• What happens next
• Evaluation timelines
• Parent consent
• Eligibility
• Reevaluations

📞 NEED HELP FIGURING OUT WHERE TO START?

SPEDTex
☎️ 1-855-773-3839
📧 [email protected]

👇 I’ll put the FREE evaluation resources in the first comment below so you can save them.

❤️ You don’t need to know the diagnosis. You just need to know when it’s time to ask for answers.

🧰 TEXAS SPED RESOURCES FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW — RESOURCE #5☎️ WHEN YOU HAVE A SPED QUESTION AND DON’T KNOW WHO TO ASK…Mee...
08/25/2026

🧰 TEXAS SPED RESOURCES FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW — RESOURCE #5

☎️ WHEN YOU HAVE A SPED QUESTION AND DON’T KNOW WHO TO ASK…

Meet SPEDTex — the Special Education Information Center.

SPEDTex is a FREE Texas resource that provides families and educators with special education information, resources, and navigation support.

And here’s the nice part:

You don’t have to know the right terminology or even exactly what you’re looking for before you call.

SPEDTex can help you find information and resources related to:

• The ARD/IEP process
• Evaluations and eligibility
• Parent rights
• Dyslexia
• Behavior and discipline
• Transition services
• Disagreements or concerns with the school
• Other special education supports and resources

💡 ADVOCACY TIP

Sometimes the hardest part is simply figuring out:

“Who am I supposed to ask about this?”

Start somewhere.

SPEDTex specialists can provide information, explain available resources, and help point you in the right direction.

And it’s FREE.

📞 SAVE THIS CONTACT

☎️ 1-855-SPEDTEX
☎️ 1-855-773-3839
📧 [email protected]

👇 I’ll put the direct SPEDTex link in the first comment so you can save it.

❤️ You don’t have to know everything. You just need to know where to start.

Address

San Antonio, TX

Telephone

+12108373294

Website

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