IEP Guides for Parents

Plain-language guides to help you navigate your child's IEP and special education rights with confidence.

• How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: A Parent Checklist
  A step-by-step guide for parents on how to prepare for an IEP meeting — what to bring, questions to ask, your rights, and how to advocate for your child with confidence.
• What to Do If the School Isn’t Following Your Child’s IEP
  If your school is not following the IEP, you have options. Learn the exact steps — from documentation to formal complaints — to enforce your child’s IEP under IDEA.
• IEP vs 504 Plan: What’s the Difference and Which Does My Child Need?
  IEP vs 504 Plan explained for parents: the key differences, who qualifies, what each provides, and how to decide which is right for your child.
• How to Request an IEP Evaluation (With a Sample Letter)
  Learn how to request a special education evaluation for your child — who can request, how to write the letter, timelines, and what happens next under IDEA.
• How to Read Your Child’s IEP: A Section-by-Section Guide
  An IEP can be dozens of pages of jargon. This guide walks you through each section — present levels, goals, services, accommodations — so you know what to look for.
• IEP & IDEA Timelines Every Parent Should Know
  A plain-language guide to the key IDEA timelines — evaluation, eligibility, IEP development, annual reviews, reevaluations, and dispute deadlines.
• Best IEP Help Tools for Parents (2026): An Honest Comparison
  Comparing the top IEP help tools for parents — My IEP Hero, Highlighter, IEP Ally, IEP Compass, Undivided, IEP Advocate.ai, IEP Desk, KidvoKit, and Arloa. What each does, who it fits, and how to choose.
• How Much Does an IEP Advocate Cost in 2026? (And Cheaper Alternatives)
  IEP advocates typically charge $100–$400/hour. What drives the price, when you actually need one, and how AI tools plus affordable advocate marketplaces change the math.
• IEP Advocate vs. Special Education Attorney: Which Do You Actually Need?
  Advocates ($100–$400/hr) handle strategy and meetings; attorneys ($300–$600+/hr) handle legal disputes. A decision guide for parents on who to hire, when, and cheaper paths first.
• 27 Questions to Ask at Your Child’s IEP Meeting (By Situation)
  The exact questions that surface vague goals, missing services, and untracked progress — organized by meeting type, with the follow-up to use when you get a vague answer.