IEPs: Special education terms and your legal rights

Understood Explains

If your child qualifies for an IEP, it will come with many legal rights and protections. But with names like “FAPE” and “prior written notice,” things can get confusing quickly.

Still, it’s really important for parents to understand these terms — and that's where this podcast comes in to help.

In this episode of Understood Explains, host Juliana Urtubey breaks down some key terms and explains the legal rights that come with an IEP, or Individualized Education Program.

For more resources, including a transcript formatted for easy skimming, visit the episode page on Understood.org.

Timestamps:

(00:46) FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education

(03:07) Least restrictive environment

(07:32) Informed consent

(08:23) Prior written notice and “stay put” rights

(10:48) Other key rights

(11:56) Key takeaways

Related resources

• Download: Endrew R. advocacy toolkit
• How to consent to some parts of an IEP and not others
• Guidance letter from the Department of Education for schools to translate IEPs PDF

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