Help for your child doesn't start with special ed

Learning follows a developmental process and every child progresses at his or her own pace. All educational objectives follow a range of performance. In order to determine if your child needs instructional support, ask your child's teacher to provide you with the following information:

• Performance scores on universal screenings

• Data on classroom-based assessments

• Behavioral information across educational settings

Request a parent/teacher conference to discuss your child's performance, as it compares with that of his/her classmates as well as same-aged students across the nation. There are many ways to get additional support for your child before special education services need to be considered, but you should be as informed as the teachers in order to participate effectively on your child's behalf.