Talking points to help you advocate

Learn

• What Endrew F. means for your child

  In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a case called Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. Endrew was a student with autism. Year after year, his IEP had the same goals, and he made very little progress.

  The court decided that a little progress isn’t enough. The ruling doesn’t mean the school has to provide the best possible program. But it does mean the IEP has to be built for real progress.

  Based on Endrew F., your child’s IEP should:

  • Be “reasonably calculated” to help your child make real progress, based on their unique needs

  • Aim for grade-level work (this applies to most kids, but some kids with significant cognitive disabilities may work toward different standards)

  • Include behavioral services that your child needs to be able to learn

  • Be “ambitious” about your child’s future and what can be accomplished

• Talking points to help you aim higher

  If you don’t think your child’s IEP is aiming high enough, you can point to this Supreme Court case when you discuss your concerns with the school.

  Download Understood’s Endrew F. talking points pair key language from the decision with plain-language explanations. They also give examples of what you can say. For example:

  • “My child hasn’t made much progress on this goal. What can we change?”

  • “Can you help me understand why this is the right decision for my child?”

  • “How can we make this goal more challenging?”

  Bring something that shows your child’s progress, like progress reports or your IEP goal tracker. Talking points work best when you can point to specifics.

• When talking points aren’t enough

  Sometimes, even a well-prepared conversation doesn’t change the school’s mind. That’s frustrating, but it’s not the end of the road.

  If you and the school still disagree, you can take other steps, like asking for mediation. Learn about your options for resolving IEP disputes.