As the school year wraps up and summer vacation looms, we know it’s easy for parents to feel like they’re juggling a million things, especially when it comes to your child’s IEP. Is the clock ticking down and you’re stressing about getting that IEP signed before the final bell rings? Or maybe your child’s big school transition isn’t going as smoothly as you’d hoped? Don’t sweat it! Before you dive into summer fun, let’s tackle a few important tasks to make sure you finish the school year strong.
5 major items for parents to address before the end of the school year
With help from Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka, we’ve put together a list of five key things parents should address before school’s out.
- Sign off on ESY: get the extended school year (ESY) portion signed to kick off summer right, even if the rest of the IEP isn’t finalized yet!
- Prep for next year’s transition: planning a school switch? Check out Dr. Pelangka’s top tips for smooth transitions, whether it’s elementary to middle or middle to high school.
- Keep devices for summer: your child has the right to keep assistive technology like iPads, AAC devices, or hearing aids over the summer to ensure they continue learning.
- Learn about compensatory education: wondering if your child qualifies for “make up hours?” Learn how to spot the signs for compensatory education services.
- Review the IEP before signing: don’t rush! Take the time to carefully review your IEP before signing — small details matter!
And these are just the highlights! Our school year wrap-up article has in-depth tips on discussing each of these with your IEP team. Read the article!
IEP review time — are you missing anything?
That last part is key — be sure to carefully review your child’s IEP before signing to make sure it matches what you and the IEP team agreed on. But don’t forget these two important things before wrapping up the school year: the “stay put” provision can protect your child’s educational rights if there’s a disagreement with the school, like on their IEP. And that when your child exits special education, a summary of performance (SOP) is created to support their transition into adulthood.
Busy day? Press play. Our top parent tips are now bite-sized podcast episodes — perfect for learning on the go! Catch the latest episodes of our AI-powered podcast in our podcast playlist here! This week’s lineup? 
Episode 10: What is “Stay-Put” in Special Education?
School wrap-up parent tip: feeling swamped with your end-of-year to-do list? Take a deep breath! Just because school’s out doesn’t mean the district staff is off the clock. Most school admins work past the last day of school, so communication doesn’t have to stop after the last bell rings. Dr. Pelangka reminds us, “You can always request to meet over the summer, it just may not be a full team. You can try to at least hash it out through an administrative amendment, if need be.”
Undivided Updates: What families of children with disabilities need to know about recent federal policy and legal changes
If you’ve seen posts online about cuts to federal departments and funding — from Medicaid to 504 plans to public health services — and felt a wave of worry, you’re not alone. It’s tough to know what’s real, what’s just a rumor, and what it all means for your child. That’s why our team is tracking proposed changes to disability services and supports that many families count on — and breaking it down in plain language — so you don’t have to do it alone. Read about all the proposed cuts here and check back often for updates.
As one of our parent members told us, “I found Undivided at the Dear Mom conference in Laguna Beach. It is so nice to have one place where I can find so many different resources in helping navigate my son’s high school education and transitioning into his next phase, which we are researching at the moment.”
RSVP now → Special Education Updates: How Federal Proposals Could Affect Our Kids
With potential changes to federal education departments on the horizon, many parents of students with disabilities are understandably concerned how these changes could affect their children’s access to education. Here to help us understand what’s at stake is Denise Marshall, CEO of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Join us for a FREE Zoom webinar on June 12, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. PT where Denise will go over what’s changing, what’s not, and what we need to know to protect our children’s rights. Register for the free event here→
Join us for office hours
Whether your child is already in the Self-Determination Program (SDP) or you’re curious about how to transition from traditional Regional Center services to SDP, we’re here to help you get answers to all your questions! Join us on Wednesday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. PT for expert office hours with Undivided’s Self-Determination Consultant Iris Barker to ask your questions on Zoom. If you’re not an Undivided member yet, get started here to join us for office hours every week.
Tune in to these Undivided Conversations happening this week on our Facebook page:
- Do Schools Have to Offer Inclusive Extended School Year? Join Undivided’s Content Specialist and Non-Attorney Education Advocate Karen Ford Cull on Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. PT in a candid conversation with David German (Vanaman German) and Melinda Bird (Disability Rights California) as they break down the M.C. vs. LAUSD case and what it means for students with disabilities and their summer services.
- End of School Year Wrap-Up. What questions or concerns do you have before school’s out for the summer? Join us Sunday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. PT with Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka as she helps us tie up any loose ends and concerns we may have in our kids’ education as the school year comes to a close.
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What’s the difference between make-up service hours and comp ed, and how do you know what to ask for? Hear from Dr. Sarah Pelangka on our YouTube channel→
Share local events, get recommendations for providers, and find community with fellow parents. Join our private group on Facebook→
Considering switching to homeschooling next year? Check out these tips on Instagram to see if it’s right for your family→
We’re committed to helping families and providers stay informed and updated! Connect with Undivided on LinkedIn→
