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Your Advocacy Can't Wait for the Next IEP Meeting: Why Staying Engaged in our Children’s Education is More Important Than Ever

When did you last check in on your child's educational progress outside of an IEP meeting? If you're like many parents, you might find yourself relying on annual conferences and report cards to gauge how your child is doing. However, a recent report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) makes it clear that in today's post-pandemic world, that's no longer enough. Our children need us to be their champions every day of the school year. In the 2024/2025 school year, more than ever, your advocacy can't wait for the next IEP meeting.


A colorful image with a teal background and squiggly lines. A smiling young person with long locks and a purple sweater is writing on a large pink calendar. Above, a yellow text box reads "Your advocacy can't wait for the next IEP meeting." Below, text states "Why staying engaged in our children's education is more important than ever."

The CRPE Report: A Wake-Up Call for Caregivers and Educators

The CRPE's "State of the American Student: Fall 2024" report paints a sobering picture of the challenges facing students with learning disabilities and those receiving special education services. Let's look at some key findings:


  • There's been a surge of roughly 343,000 students identified for special education from 2020-21 to 2022-23.

  • More than four years after COVID emerged, the average student is still less than halfway to full academic recovery.

  • In New York City, while 61% of all students demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts, only 29% of students with disabilities reached this benchmark.


As Robin Lake, director of the CRPE, points out: "The thing that really struck us as we looked across all of the data points … [is] there's just a disproportionate impact for those [special populations of] students across the board."


Why Your Advocacy Can't Wait for the Next IEP Meeting

The CRPE report reveals that many issues remain hidden throughout the school year, only to surface in alarming data later. Here's why your ongoing advocacy is crucial:


  1. Progress can stall between meetings: The report shows that recovery has been "slow and uneven." Without regular check-ins, small issues can snowball into significant setbacks.


  1. Services can fall through the cracks: One parent in the CRPE study shared, "He was supposed to have his speech therapy... He fell further behind because my husband and I tried our best, but we can only do so much if you're not a teacher."


  1. Communication breakdowns are common: The report noted a "ghosting" phenomenon, where many parents felt left in the dark about their children's progress and struggles.


  1. Mental health needs often go unaddressed: The CRPE report cites a McKinsey analysis showing that while an estimated 17.4 million K-12 students have mental health needs, schools can only serve 1.1 million.


Real Parents, Real Strategies

While the CRPE report highlights significant challenges, it also points to the critical role of parent advocacy. Here are five real-life examples of how parents found manageable ways to make a big impact on their children's education:


  1. Amanda's Friday Recap Emails


Amanda, a working mom of two, felt disconnected from her son Ethan's school day. She started sending a quick email every Friday to Ethan's teacher and case manager. "I just jot down one thing Ethan was proud of that week and one thing he found challenging," Amanda explains. "It takes me five minutes, but it's opened up so much communication."


One week, Amanda mentioned Ethan's struggle with a new math concept. His teacher responded with additional resources over the weekend, and by Monday, Ethan felt more confident in class.


  1. Miguel's IEP Service Checklist


Miguel, whose daughter Ana has speech and occupational therapy, was concerned about missed sessions. He created a simple checklist on his phone's notes app. "Every Sunday night, I tick off the services Ana received that week," Miguel says. "If I notice a pattern of missed sessions, I have concrete data to discuss with the school."


This practice helped Miguel notice that Ana's speech therapy was often scheduled during her favorite class, art. He worked with the school to adjust the timing, increasing Ana's participation in both.


  1. Latisha's Monthly "Goal Check" Routine


Latisha, a single mom, felt overwhelmed by her son Jamal's IEP goals. She started a monthly routine of reviewing Jamal's goals over her morning coffee on the first Saturday of each month. "I look at his recent schoolwork and think about what I've observed at home," Latisha shares. "It helps me see his progress more clearly."


This practice led Latisha to notice Jamal's improvement in reading comprehension, but ongoing struggles with writing. She requested an IEP review meeting, resulting in additional writing support for Jamal.


  1. The Patel Family's Quick Check-Ins


Raj and Priya Patel both work full-time and found it hard to stay connected with their daughter Asha's teachers. They started scheduling 10-minute phone calls with Asha's main teacher during their lunch breaks, alternating weeks.


"These quick chats help us stay in the loop," says Raj. "Last month, we learned Asha was excelling at group projects, something we hadn't realized. Now we're looking for more opportunities to build on that strength."


  1. Emma's Communication Notebook


Emma's son, Oliver, is nonverbal and struggles to share about his school day. Emma worked with Oliver's teacher to start a simple communication notebook that travels between home and school daily.


"Oliver's teacher or aide jots down a quick note about his day – maybe an activity he enjoyed or a challenge he faced," Emma explains. "I do the same about his evening and morning at home. It takes just a minute but helps us all support Oliver consistently."


This practice helped identify Oliver's consistent anxiety on PE days. Emma and the teacher discovered Oliver was sensitive to the gym's echoes and worked together to find solutions.


These parents found ways to stay engaged that fit into their busy lives. Their consistent, manageable efforts led to better communication with their children's schools and more tailored support for their kids.


By adopting similar practices, you can create a sustainable ongoing advocacy system that addresses the CRPE report's concerns. These strategies keep you informed, maintain open lines of communication, and allow you to address issues promptly, ensuring your child receives the support they need throughout the school year.


The Bright Future We're Fighting For

The CRPE report isn't all doom and gloom. It also highlights promising models and a path forward. As we advocate tirelessly for our children, let's envision the future we're creating:


  • A world where every child, regardless of their learning differences, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

  • Schools that proactively communicate with parents, seeing us as essential partners in education.

  • A society that values and supports diverse learning needs, recognizing that every child has unique strengths to contribute.


As the report states, "The urgent work of improving public education for students with distinct learning needs will benefit all students."


Your Advocacy Journey Starts Now

Today, I challenge you to take one small step. Maybe it's sending an email to your child's teacher asking for an update. Perhaps it's joining a local parent support group. Whatever it is, know that this small action is the beginning of a powerful journey.


Remember, you are not alone in this. As Robin Lake notes in the report, "What I think really came through to us — especially in the parent interviews we conducted this year — was parents were experiencing a system that wasn't functioning even before the pandemic effectively for them." By speaking up and taking action, you're joining countless other parents who are working to change this reality.


Our children's potential is limitless. With our unwavering support and advocacy, there's no telling what they can achieve. So let's commit, here and now, to being their champions not just at IEP meetings, but every single day.


Are you ready to take that first step? Your child's future is waiting. Let's make it bright.


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