10 Back to School Tips to Effectively Advocate For Your Child’s Special Education Needs

Going back to school can be tough, not just for our children with special needs, but for parents as well. To help families transition smoothly into a new school year, I have compiled my top 10 back-to-school tips for parents. From preparing for IEP meetings to building stronger communication with teachers and supporting your child's self-advocacy, these strategies are designed to empower families and create a positive start to the school year. 

1. Celebrate the accomplishments of the school year: Reflect on the year and where your child showed growth, tried something new or overcame adversity. Advocating for your child is hard work! Take time to celebrate what went well. 

2. Boost self-advocacy skills: Create opportunities for your child to express their needs and to make decisions that are developmentally appropriate for their age. Over time, these skills will empower your child to take an active role in their education and boost their confidence in managing their own experiences.

3. Strengthen your support network: Join a local support group for parents of children with special needs. These groups often meet in person and provide a safe space to share experiences and learn from one another. Facebook is also a great place to build a community with many groups that allow parents to ask questions and share private provider recommendations. 

4. Review IEP progress reports and identify priorities for the upcoming school year: If there were IEP goals or benchmarks that your child was repeatedly not meeting, these areas should be a primary focus in the new year. 

5. Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the IEP: Understanding the components of the IEP helps you to feel empowered to be an active participant at your child’s IEP meetings. The IEP annual review is an opportunity to make sure your child’s educational plan is on track and supporting their growth. Review the current IEP and write down questions or concerns that you want to discuss at the upcoming annual review meeting. 

6. Plan for the three year re-evaluation: If this is a re-evaluation year, start thinking early about what may be impacting your child’s learning and what testing you want to request to help inform their educational planning. If you prefer to have a private evaluation done, this is also the time to get that scheduled so that it is completed well ahead of the re-evaluation due date. 

7. Get the lay of the land: Request a tour of the new building or classroom and preview your child’s new schedule with them ahead of school starting. This will help to ensure a more successful transition into a new environment.  

8. Maintain open communication: Establish a communication plan with your child’s case manager that works for both of you. Share updates about any changes at home that occurred over the summer and sign releases for the school to be able to communicate with your private providers. This helps to ensure continuity of care for your child. 

9. Promote their social growth: The new school year is a great time to find an extracurricular activity that compliments your child’s strengths or aligns with their interests while also promoting self-confidence and self-advocacy skills. 

10. Know your rights: Remember that you have a right to call an IEP at any time. If you continue to have concerns about your child’s progress after the first month of school, request an IEP meeting (in writing) to problem solve what modifications can be made to the IEP to help support your child. 

 Kate Lakowski is the founder of Education Empowerment Partners, PLLC, providing educational consulting and special education advocacy services to families and school districts. Kate started as a school psychologist, working at a large north shore high school district for sixteen years. 

Through a collaborative approach and data-based decision making, Kate will work with your child’s educational team to develop a plan that will help lead to successful outcomes for your child’s educational career and future goals. 

For more information, visit educationempowermentpartners.com.

This article was prepared for the Clancy and Associates July 2025 Newsletter.