If your concern is shared by other parents, combine together to make a presentation to your Board of Education, which must sign off on the district s self-improvement plans. Attend Board of Education meetings regularly and if possible, run for a position on the Board of Education. If there is a chronic, systemic problem, write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper or try to interest a reporter in writing an article. If you are stymied by your district education administration, contact your mayor and local council. If necessary, follow the political chain and contact your local state senator and assemblyperson.
Parents have the right to state level mediation and due process to resolve conflicts.
They have the right to file state and federal complaint investigations, as well. The suggestions I just outlined are supplemental to these guaranteed rights as possible ways out of that special education box. The Solution Circles facilitated by the Coalition this year were very successful. Perhaps the state could use that method as a model. Then the role of parents as equal partners would be a reality and not just a phrase in the code.