Hope4Families

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Hope4Families Hope4Families is a special education law firm that assists parents/guardians and their special needs children.

Our goal is to help families obtain vitally important services from their school districts.

10/20/2026

The school said no to your IEP request? Ask for this. ✅

When the school proposes or refuses changes to your child's evaluation, placement, or educational program, it must give you Prior Written Notice (34 CFR §300.503). Ask for the explanation in writing.

The notice must explain what the school is proposing or refusing, why, and what information it used to make that decision (34 CFR §300.503(b)).

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Hope4Families Law LLP · California

10/20/2026

Special ed request: email or letter? Why she prefers email

Yun Hee Kim, Esq., Attorney at Hope4Families:

Write it down. An email or a letter works, and an email leaves a dated record. Ask that your child be evaluated.

California defines a referral for a special education assessment as a written request (Cal. Ed. Code §56029). Email is her preference, not a legal requirement.

Save this for your evaluation request.

Hope4Families Law LLP · Los Angeles, CA

10/20/2026

Child struggling in school? You just know something is wrong

Priya Bahl-Sen, Esq., Supervising Attorney at Hope4Families:

F's, homework that isn't connecting, a teacher with a lot going on. Step one: request an evaluation.

In California, a referral for a special education assessment is a written request (Cal. Ed. Code §56029).

Repost to help another parent.

Hope4Families Law LLP · Los Angeles, CA

10/20/2026

Disagree with the school's evaluation? The district has to either fund an independent one or file for due process to defend its own. Follow for more.

10/20/2026

IEP deadlines in California: how long the school has. 📅

School records: copies within 5 business days of asking (Cal. Ed. Code §56504).

Assessment plan: if the school will assess your child, the plan is due within 15 calendar days of the school getting your referral (Cal. Ed. Code §56321(a)).

IEP review you ask for: asked in writing to review the IEP? The meeting is due within 30 days of the school getting your request (Cal. Ed. Code §56343.5).

Testing to IEP meeting: within 60 calendar days of the school getting your signed assessment plan (Cal. Ed. Code §56043(c)).

Not counted in the 15, 30 and 60: days between terms, and vacation days in excess of 5 school days (Cal. Ed. Code §§56321(a), 56343.5, 56344(a)).

Put every request in writing and keep the date. Email counts.

Save this for your next request, and follow for more.

With .ravare.law

Hope4Families Law LLP · California

10/19/2026

The school offered a 504 plan instead of an IEP. Why? ✅

An IEP comes from IDEA and is for eligible students who need special education, which includes specially designed instruction (20 U.S.C. §1401(29)). A 504 plan comes from Section 504, which protects a broader group of students.

A 504 plan isn't necessarily just accommodations. Section 504 can also require special education and related services (34 CFR §104.33). The real question is whether the plan meets your child's needs.

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Hope4Families Law LLP · California

10/19/2026

School won't evaluate your child for special ed? Here's what happens next. ✅

Put your request in writing. Email counts (Cal. Ed. Code §56029(a)).

Once the school has it, it has 15 calendar days to send you an assessment plan. Long school breaks don't count (Cal. Ed. Code §56321(a)).

A school can still say no, but it has to explain why in writing. That's called Prior Written Notice (34 CFR §300.503).

If the answer is still no, you can challenge it (34 CFR §300.507(a)(1); Cal. Ed. Code §56501(a)).

A no is not the end of the road. If you're stuck, Hope4Families can help.

With .ravare.law

Hope4Families Law LLP · California

10/18/2026

California parents: you can agree to only part of an IEP. ✅

Give written consent to the parts you agree with and withhold it from the rest. The school must implement the parts you consented to without delay (Cal. Ed. Code §56346(e)).

That doesn't automatically resolve the disagreement about everything else (Cal. Ed. Code §56346(f)). Before you sign, make sure you understand exactly what you're agreeing to.

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Hope4Families Law LLP · California

10/17/2026

If your child is not making progress, the same plan cannot come back unchanged next year. Different services, more minutes each week, or a different placement. Under Endrew F. an IEP has to be reasonably calculated to enable progress appropriate in light of your child's circumstances. When there is no progress and nothing changes, that is the standard being missed. Endrew F. v. Douglas County, 580 U.S. 386. Follow for more.

10/16/2026

Your child's IEP promises services. Are they actually happening? ✅

Schools must provide services in accordance with the IEP (34 CFR §300.323). Ask the school for the records showing when each service was provided, and compare them to the IEP.

If something doesn't add up, put your concerns in an email. If services were missed, your child may be entitled to compensatory education to address what they lost.

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Hope4Families Law LLP · California

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Los Angeles, CA

Telephone

+13232751161

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