Yes, No or Maybe:  Legal Parameters of Parental Consent and Revocation

Both federal and state law contain numerous protections for parents to ensure they have every available opportunity to participate in the process of developing and implementing their child’s IEP.  One such protection is the obligation on districts to obtain—or make reasonable attempts to obtain—fully informed parental consent.  But the rules for districts on this issue can be complex and confusing.  Who is qualified to provide consent?  When must consent be sought?  What are the options if parents refuse to provide consent—or change their minds after having previously consented?  This presentation answers those questions and others, through an analysis of the law and illustrative case examples.

Serving Students with Anxiety and/or Depression

Studies have shown that students with disabilities are more likely than their nondisabled peers to experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.  Contributing factors can include behavioral issues, academic struggles, and social difficulties.  In addition, since the end of the COVID pandemic, due process filings involving students with anxiety and/or depression have increased significantly.  Through an in-depth look at legal standards and selected decisions from the Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”), we focus on some of the most problematic issues for IEP teams—identifying, determining eligibility and providing appropriate goals, services and placements—for this group of students. 

Legal Update

This highly popular session provides an overview of the most important recent cases from OAH and the courts—and why they matter to special educators.  We also highlight recent federal and state guidance on relevant topics.  And, of course, we will provide any late-breaking legal developments that you need to know.

Targeted Questions And Answers

To wrap up the day, F3 Law special education attorneys will field your inquiries on a variety of topics in an expanded Q&A session.