Were you ever actually trained on what you are expected to do at the IEP table? Most parents, advocates, and educators were not — and that is exactly why we sit at the table prepared.
In this live Ask the Advocate session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers more than 50 real questions straight from the audience. No scripts, no fluff — just clear, practical answers on the things you are responsible for but were never taught.
WHAT WE COVER
→ How to set up next school year before summer ends — including the "Zach Pack" every educator should get on day one
→ Who is actually allowed to deliver special education minutes, and why "two years below grade level" does not change that
→ Paraprofessionals, one-on-one supports, and communication partners for SGD users
→ Accommodations written from a student's characteristics — not their eligibility label
→ Compensatory services when minutes are missed, and how to calculate frequency, duration, and location
→ The two prongs of Extended School Year (ESY)
→ Prior written notice that will not get corrected, and the seven required components
→ Independent educational evaluations (IEEs): data, summary, and conclusion
→ Transition planning and postsecondary success
→ Filing complaints that are actually effective
→ Inclusion versus proximity — and why they are not the same thing
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome — we made it through the school year
01:30 Tonight we launch The Epic Educator Academy
02:30 Summer planning: what parents should be thinking about
04:00 The Zach Pack: prepping every educator for day one
06:00 One-on-one paras, communication partners, and SGDs
07:00 Stopping cookie-cutter accommodations
08:30 Calling the dean, field trips, and para coverage
11:00 Service minutes and who can deliver them
13:00 Manifestation determinations: the two questions
14:30 New special education director: where to start
16:00 Missed in-class support: calculate the minutes
17:30 Taking better data and present levels that do not match
19:00 IEP goal criteria and disagreements
22:00 Retention: should you hold your child back?
24:00 Compensatory services and missed minutes
26:00 ESY: the two prongs
27:00 Progress reports you never received
29:00 Prior written notice that will not get corrected
30:00 IEEs: data, summary, conclusion
34:00 Transition planning and postsecondary
36:00 Filing complaints that actually work
39:00 Monitoring accommodations and inclusion supports
44:00 How service frequencies are set
48:00 "Two years below grade level": who delivers SDI
52:00 Parent concerns and your right to be heard
53:00 Who belongs at the IEP table
55:00 Inclusion versus proximity
58:00 Continuum of placements: a senior moved to all gen ed
59:30 Closing
This is educational training, not legal advice. We educate everyone at the IEP and 504 table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.
WANT MORE
Educators — The Epic Educator Academy is live training every Monday at 7:00 PM Central, built for school-based staff. $27/month, cancel anytime: specialeducationacademy.com/educator
Parents and advocates — join Special Education Academy for 250+ hours of training, updated weekly: specialeducationacademy.com/training
Get the books: The Epic IEP, The Epic IEP: PARA, and The Epic IEP Guide to Federal and State Law for Special Education, wherever books are sold.
When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everyone. — Karen Mayer Cunningham
✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨
👩⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®
Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.
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🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources
🔗 Learn more at The Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime.
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