A client came to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) seeking help after becoming concerned that her grandson’s school was not following his Individualized Education Program (IEP). FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
The client shared that her grandson had previously enjoyed going to school but no longer wanted to attend due to excessive disciplinary actions, including both indoor and outdoor suspensions. These repeated disciplinary measures raised concerns that his educational needs were not being properly addressed and that the school may not be complying with his IEP.
With an upcoming IEP meeting scheduled, the client was worried about continued mistreatment and wanted to ensure her grandson received the support he needed to succeed. She reached out to FRLS for assistance in requesting a one-on-one aide or paraprofessional, participation in physical education classes, replacement of his damaged school-issued tablet, and a directive preventing further contact with a specific staff member.
A FRLS advocate attended two IEP meetings alongside the client, helping gather and present documentation to support her requests. Through advocacy and collaboration with the school, an agreement was reached to provide several accommodations for the client’s grandson. In addition to addressing academic needs, the advocate also worked through the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), which offered important insights into his behavior. This led to the development of a comprehensive Positive Behavior Intervention Plan (PBIP) to better support his emotional and behavioral success in the classroom.
For families, an IEP is a critical tool to ensure children with special needs receive the support and services they are entitled to under the law. For more information on our education legal services, contact us at 1-888-582-3410 or visit FRLS.org/education-legal-services.