Education Law

When we say "Education Law" at Kokensparger & Ryan, LLC, we're referring to federal, state, and local laws that govern public and private schools and universities here in Ohio, especially where it involves children's rights or the rights of the children's parents.

Education law issues we address can involve attendance, the formulation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for a child with special needs, funding issues, residential status for school attendance, disciplinary action, discrimination, rights of disabled students.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted to provide special assistance for any child suffering from a learning disability, special behavioral disability, developmental delay, or other problem affecting the child's ability to succeed in school.

In theory, the IDEA mandates that parents play a central role in putting together the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for the child. In practice, however, with schools churning out more IEPs each year, the importance of the parents' input in this process can be overlooked.

Many parents fear that if the school has prepared a draft IEP prior to the meeting, the school’s plan is set in stone. This is not necessarily the case, even from the school’s point of view. But more importantly, it is not the way YOU should view the process.

It’s not. Every problem has (at least one) solution. At Kokensparger & Ryan, we help families find creative solutions to real problems. The only unsolvable problem is the problem you don’t attempt.

We have over forty collective practice years in achieving creative solutions for families in crisis. We will work with you to hear your concerns, identify problems, and develop solutions to meet your family’s needs.

Having a child with special needs can be a very isolating experience. The worry over your child’s needs, education, health, and development can cause marital discord, school conflict, job loss, and immense parental stress.

Help is out there, in the form of parent groups related to your child’s disability, support groups, counseling, and yes, legal advice.

When you take advantage of one or more of these resources, make sure it isn’t adding to your stress level. They are meant to be supportive to you, not the other way around.

It’s all too easy for someone to say “Johnny’s just not trying.” Consider a radical mental shift. Children will do well if they can.

It’s hard to prove what someone said. Try it. Play a game of “telephone” with your kids, or try to remember what your mom said on the phone last week.

Putting requests in writing and requesting written responses cements plans and proposals, consents and denials. Writings make a record of what happened.

They’re not. But, when you’re in conflict, it sure can feel like it. The school team members may be feeling hostile and defensive because of a perceived attack, that is, your questioning of their methods or services.

Ultimately, both you and the school district want the same thing: to provide your child with an education that meets her needs. Conflicts arise when all concerns aren’t met, when one party tries to dictate the outcome, or when solutions won’t work in reality.

Insanity: Doing the same thing time and again, and expecting different results.

Too often, IEP's continue the same unachieved goals, with the same unmet expectations, the same teaching methods and the same manner of evaluation.