Ask the Advocate: Compensatory Services, Eligibility Traps, IEP Teams & School Pushback

In this Ask the Advocate episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real-time questions from parents, educators, and advocates navigating complex IEP situations — from compensatory services and eligibility decisions to attendance struggles, team makeup, and school-based pushback.

This episode is a powerful reminder that IEPs are legal documents, teams are equal stakeholders, and schools do not get to reduce or redefine federal rights.

In this episode, Karen covers:

  • When compensatory services are appropriate, and why “closing gaps” is the wrong goal
  • Why eligibility decisions matter — and how mislabeling harms services
  • What to do when districts push students from an IEP to a 504
  • Required members of an IEP committee (and what happens if someone leaves early)
  • Attendance concerns, OCD, and capturing all student needs in the IEP
  • Why some placements, pull-outs, and group decisions may be segregation, not support
  • The difference between collaboration and schools acting as the “IEP referee.”
  • How to think long-term about post-secondary outcomes, independence, and adult life

Karen also shares updates on The Epic IEP book, upcoming book tour stops, professional development trainings, and what’s next inside The Academy.

👉 Join The Epic IEP™Academy:
[https://academy.specialeducationacademy.com/theepiciep-courses/the-academy/]

📘 Get The Epic IEP:
Available wherever books are sold.

🎧 Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with anyone who sits at an IEP or 504 table.

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👩‍⚖️ 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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