Teaching · Special Education

A guide families keep on the fridge.

Choose who the family will work with, how you will stay in touch, what happens first and which terms to explain. The builder writes the guide in plain language, ready to print and send home.

Build a guideWhat you get

The welcome guide builder

One guide per family, under a student code. Write names on the printed copy. The example program is made up.

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What you get

Teaching · Special EducationFree

What you finish with
For each family, a printed welcome guide with the team, contact plan, progress report timing, first steps and plain definitions of the terms they will hear.
Who it is for
Special education case managers, coordinators and family liaisons welcoming families.
Format
Browser builder. One saved guide per family; printed as the guide or as a blank form; CSV; export and import a file.
Access
Free. No account and no sign-in. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Special Education space in Caveat Teaching.
Support
Questions about an order, access or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.
an open door and a guide to keep
Drawn for this page. Families new to special education meet a lot of new words and people at once; a short guide to keep helps.

How to use it

  1. Start a guide with the student code.
  2. Enter the program and the people the family will work with.
  3. Set how and how often you will be in touch.
  4. Choose the first steps and terms to explain.
  5. Print, add names and contacts by hand, and send it home.

Build a guide

What the builder is for

Why a welcome guide

Families new to special education meet new people, new paperwork and new words in a few weeks. A short guide that names the team, says how communication works and explains the terms lets them take part as the equal team members the law intends.

Accurate in plain words

The glossary is written for this page in plain language and matches federal law in general terms: parents are IEP team members, the IEP is updated at least yearly, parents get regular progress reports and written notice before changes.

What this is not

A welcome guide, not the procedural safeguards notice itself. Give families your state’s notice as well.

Sources

  1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulations, 34 CFR 300.321 and 300.322 (parents as IEP team members) and 300.324(b) (annual review).
  2. 34 CFR 300.320(a)(3)(ii) (periodic progress reports, such as with report cards), 300.503 (prior written notice) and 300.504 (procedural safeguards notice).
  3. 34 CFR 300.34 (related services) and 300.114 (least restrictive environment).
  4. Center for Parent Information and Resources (funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs), parent guides to the IEP.

The example program and family are made up. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.