Your Child Your Choice

Parent Leadership in Non-Traditional Settings

The purpose of this project is to provide families with the information necessary to support best practices for inclusive education in non-traditional school settings.

Prior to 1975, when Congress first enacted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, many children with disabilities were denied the right to public education. Over thirty-five years later, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with disabilities who attend public schools are guaranteed a free education, in the least restrictive environment, and an individualized education plan (IEP). Children with disabilities and/or special health care needs who attend public schools are also afforded procedural safeguards under IDEA to assure that school districts follow the intent of the law. However, not all parents choose to have their child attend a public school.

Today, more than ever, parents have a variety of schooling options from which to choose for their children with disabilities. These non-traditional options include: charter schools, cyber schools, parochial schools and home schooling. Though these schooling options may meet the specific needs of the children and families, children with disabilities who attend non-traditional schools are not afforded the same procedural safeguards under IDEA as children with disabilities who attend public schools. As a result, parents need information that is necessary to support best practices for inclusive education in non-traditional school settings. These parents also need support to connect with other parents who may be in the same or similar situation.

Your Child Your Choice is a training opportunity for parents who have selected non-traditional schools for their children with disabilities and/or special health care needs to learn and develop skills to affect changes in the system that will support all children with disabilities who attend non-traditional schools.

Join our mailing list for information about parent training opportunities HERE [LINK].