Parent Resources

Have a school concern but aren't sure who to contact? This free School Communication Guide helps parents decide whether they have a question, need clarification, have a concern, or need a broader team discussion—and who may be the right person to contact first.

What is your child’s school information really telling you? This free Midyear IEP Pattern Finder helps parents compare progress reports, grades, assessments, work samples, accommodations, teacher feedback, and observations to identify patterns, growth, and questions worth exploring.

By midyear, parents have collected a lot of information. This free Midyear IEP Organization Checklist helps you gather the documents, data, work samples, school communication, and observations that help tell the story of your child’s year so far.

Not sure what your child’s IEP progress report is really telling you? This free IEP Progress Report Checklist helps parents review goals, look for meaningful data, spot concerns, and know what questions to ask the school.

September doesn't require perfection. Parents don't need to have every answer, solve every problem, or eliminate every fear before the first day of school. In the final installment of The Invisible Backpack Parents Bring to School series, discover how preparation, hope, and confidence can help families walk into a new school year ready for whatever comes next.

As a new school year approaches, many parents carry fear, uncertainty, and overwhelm. In Part 4 of The Invisible Backpack Parents Bring to School series, learn how information, questions, documentation, support, hope, and confidence can help lighten the load and prepare you for the year ahead.

Before the school year begins, take time to review accommodations, goals, services, teacher communication, transportation, and medical concerns. This practical guide helps parents prepare their child's IEP and start the year with confidence.

Anxiety often lives in uncertainty. In Part 2 of The Invisible Backpack Parents Bring to School, we unpack the “what if” questions parents carry into a new school year and explore how fear can make us write endings before we have the full story.

As a new school year approaches, many parents carry an invisible weight: fear. Fear that this year will look just like last year. In Part 1 of The Invisible Backpack Parents Bring to School series, we unpack the fear of repeating difficult school experiences and discuss how turning fear into information can help parents feel more prepared and empowered.

When August rolls around, parents are carrying more than backpacks and school supplies. They are carrying their own school experiences, fears, hopes, and the weight of previous challenges. This introduction to a six-part series explores the invisible things many parents bring into a new school year.

The first month of school often reveals important patterns. Use this free reflection worksheet to celebrate successes, document concerns, organize questions, and prepare for productive conversations with your child's school team.

Homework struggles often tell an important story. This free Homework Observation Sheet helps parents track homework time, frustration, support needed, and learning patterns so they can identify concerns, monitor progress, and have more informed conversations with teachers and IEP teams.

Download As a parent, you don’t have to wait for the school to call an IEP meeting. If you see something isn’t working—or your child’s needs have changed—you have the right to request a meeting at any time. The tricky part? Figuring out how to word that request in a way that is clear, respectful, and makes sure you’re taken seriously. To make it easier, I’ve created a free template letter you can customize. Just fill in your child’s information and specific concerns, and you’

A parent-friendly one-pager for IEP/504 meetings. Print it. Bring it. Use it.

Use this log to track all calls, emails, and meetings related to your child's education.

Special education is full of acronyms that can make meetings feel like a different language. This quick guide translates the most common terms into plain English, with simple examples and a free printable you can bring to meetings. Download How to use this guide (30 seconds) Keep a printed copy in your IEP binder or phone photos. When you see an acronym, pause and confirm the meaning in plain language. If a term is unclear in a document, ask the team to write it out. Acronyms

There is a lot to keep track of when a child has an IEP or 504. Use these trackers to help you keep up with your child's accommodations and supports.

Start strong. Stay supported. Advocate early. This quick, parent-friendly checklist helps you kick off the school year with confidence—before the first bell even rings. From printing your child’s IEP to sending that all-important first email to the teacher, you’ll have clear, simple steps to keep services on track and communication flowing. Because you don’t have to wait for a problem to speak up—starting early builds the bridge.