Answers to Common Questions from Families

Educational advocacy means guiding families through the school system to ensure children receive the services, supports, and placements they deserve. At EmpowerED Consulting Group, serving families across Greater Boston and the North Shore, we partner with you to understand your child’s rights, review evaluations, prepare for IEP or 504 Plan meetings, and communicate with school teams. Our experienced advocates help parents of students with disabilities navigate the complex world of special education—so you can feel confident your child is getting the best possible education and support.

If you’re unsure whether your child is getting the right support, an educational advocate can help identify what’s missing and ensure their needs are met. You might benefit from working with an advocate when:

— Your child’s grades or behavior are declining despite teacher interventions.

— You’re unclear about what supports are available or why they haven’t been provided.

— IEP or 504 meetings feel confusing, repetitive, or unproductive.

— Promised services aren’t being followed through.

— You feel uncertain about your rights or the next steps.

At EmpowerED Consulting Group, we help parents clarify concerns, review data, prepare for meetings, and hold schools accountable—so you can move forward with confidence.

We specialize in supporting children with medically complex, multi-diagnosis profiles. Our services include:

— Reviewing medical, therapeutic and educational records and summarizing how the medical needs intersect with learning needs.

— Helping you present to the school team the full picture of your child’s challenges (e.g., fatigue, absences, therapy-needs, hospitalizations) and how that affects school performance.

— Collaborating with your medical/therapy providers to ensure their recommendations are translated into appropriate classroom supports, accommodations, and communication plans.

— Assisting with IEP/504 meetings, progress monitoring, and follow-up to ensure the promises made reflect the complexity of your child’s profile.

— If needed, exploring options like specialized programming or out-of-district placement that can handle medical + educational needs.

Relocating adds extra layers of complexity. Key questions and supports include:

— Before you move: gather your child’s current IEP/504 plan, evaluation reports (educational, psychological, therapy) and document their services and progress.

— After you move: request a meeting, meet with the new special-education director/coordinator and ask for a transition plan.

— Ask: Will your child’s current services carry over? Will the new district conduct an evaluation, and on what timeline? What are the comparable programs available locally (therapies, specialized classroom settings, assistive technology)?

— We can help you contact the new district, organize your documentation, advocate for comparable services, and help you understand the new district’s options so your child doesn’t experience a gap.

This is a common frustration for parents. Here’s how we help:

— We review the evidence: what was promised in the IEP/504 or meeting minutes, what services were supposed to start, and whether they show up in progress reports or logs.

— We assist you in writing follow-up parent requests (in writing) to the district or school, documenting the promises and seeking action.

— We prepare you for the next meeting with the team: drafting an agenda, drafting your desired outcomes, and ensuring accountability (who will do what, by when).

— If necessary, we explore formal dispute-resolution options (e.g., mediation, due process) or referral to trusted and proven legal counsel.

— Documentation, clear communication, and consistency are key to moving from “promises” to “delivery”.

We help you take control of the IEP process by:

— Preparing a pre-meeting packet: your child’s strengths/needs, parent concerns, vision statements, draft goal areas you want to propose, and service recommendations.

— Coaching you on meeting strategies: how to ask clarifying questions (e.g., “How will we measure this goal?”, “What data supports this service?”, “What happens if it doesn’t work?”)

— We have hard conversations with the school and help to clearly advocate for your child’s needs. We do not “beat around the bush.” We get right to the issues in a clear and concise manner that the school district cannot avoid. 

— Attending the meeting with you (or preparing you if you’re attending alone) to keep the meeting focused, ensure roles/agenda are clear, capture agreements, and next steps.

— We review the draft IEP/504 carefully before you sign, ensuring each service is clearly written, implementation dates are specified, and progress will be monitored.

— Helping you follow up after the meeting: ensure services begin, track progress, and schedule check-ins if things are stalling.

When local district programs are insufficient to meet your child’s needs, out-of-district placement may be an option. This is our specialty, we assist by:

— We help you build your case. We work with several credible and proven attorneys. We know what they need to write, argue, and prevail in a good case.

— We help gather evidence to determine if your child is not making progress and requires an out-of-district placement. 

— Helping you gather compelling documentation: evaluations showing the child’s needs exceed typical district capacity, progress (or lack thereof) in current placement, therapy/medical data supporting the need for a more specialized setting.

— Assisting in drafting or reviewing a “placement request” to the district and supporting your presentation at the IEP meeting.

— Ensuring the IEP team considers options thoroughly (including specialized schools, residential programs, therapeutic day schools) and assesses the reasonableness of placement under the law (e.g., least restrictive environment balanced with your child’s needs).

— We go to mediation with families. Our team is trained mediators who understand the process for you. We are well-practiced at mediation and get settlement agreements when it makes sense. 

Supporting you through the negotiation of cost, transportation, and service implementation, and monitoring once placement is approved.

You have a number of important rights, including (but not limited to):

— The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

— The right to participate in IEP/504 meetings, review records, request evaluations, and obtain prior-written notice of changes.

— The right to be informed in “plain language” of your child’s evaluations and decisions.

— Your right to an independent educational evaluation (IEE).

— The right to dispute decisions you disagree with (e.g., due process, mediation, complaints)

— The right for your child to be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE) appropriate to their needs.

— Your child’s right to make effective progress despite their disability. 

We help you understand how these rights apply in your specific situation and how you can make them actionable.

Our fees vary depending on the complexity of your case (medical complexity, relocation, out-of-district placement, and the number of school meetings). When deciding if advocacy is worth it, consider:

— The potential gains for your child (better placement, appropriate services, reduced stress).

— The cost of not acting: delays, missed services, inappropriate placement, and emotional cost.

— Your child is not being educated and is not reaching their potential. 

— Inappropriate programming.

— Learning takes time, and if your child is struggling, it takes time to identify appropriate programming and put it in place.

— Our team intervening early sets up appropriate programming from the start. 

— Other issues arise, for example, children with dyslexia who are not receiving appropriate reading intervention and are struggling to make progress in reading can then develop anxiety and depression.

— Waiting until your trust in the school district is dissolved and your child is struggling is more costly than having a proactive educational plan built by our team.

Our ability to help you move from “talk” to “action”: getting documented services started, holding the school accountable, and reducing the frustration and oversight burden on you.

We offer an initial free 30-minute consultation so we can assess your situation and recommend next steps.

Here are immediate steps:

— Organize all your documentation, including evaluations, IEP/504 plans, service logs, and emails/letters.

— Write down your concerns: what is happening (or not happening), when, and how it affects your child.

— Request a meeting with the school’s special education coordinator or director and provide a brief agenda for the meeting.

— Consider contacting an advocate (like us) early so you have support before things reach a crisis.

— Maintain ongoing communication with teachers and staff: stay proactive rather than reactive.

— Ask questions in communications with teachers and staff to gain a better understanding of the issues.

Remember: early intervention and consistent follow-up often lead to better outcomes.

At Empowered Consulting Group, we serve families across towns and states. We can work remotely (via video/phone) to review documents, prepare meetings, and attend meetings. If relocation or out-of-district placement is involved, we help you register with the local school district, coordinate a plan with the district, assist you in understanding the new district’s systems, help you avoid any relocation pitfalls, ensure your child is attending school and receiving the proper services and supports, and advocate on your behalf.

While every situation is unique, our goal is to move you from frustration and uncertainty to clarity, actionable plans, and school accountability. Typical outcomes may include:

— An updated IEP with clearer goals and service dates.

— Securing appropriate services.

— Requesting appropriate evaluations and progress monitoring. 

— Accommodations that work to level the educational playing field for your child. 

— Beginning (or catching up) of delayed services.

— A transition plan for relocation.

— Administrative complaints.

— Securing an out-of-district placement.

— Better parent–school communication, fewer surprises, clearer next steps.

— Effectively communicating disagreements in IEP meetings, school letters, full or practical rejections of the IEP.

Timeframes vary: some changes happen immediately (e.g., scheduling a meeting), others (like placement or new services) may take months depending on district processes. We’ll map out realistic timelines together. Do not wait to put a plan in action.

When selecting an educational advocate, consider asking:

— What is your experience with children who have needs similar to ours (medical complexity, out-of-district placement, relocation)?

— How do you stay current with state/federal special education laws, hearing decisions, and state and federal administrative guidance?

— How will you involve us (parents) in the process? What is your role vs our role?

— What are your fees, and how are your services structured (hourly, flat-fee, project-based)?

— What are your success metrics/examples?

A good advocate will help you feel informed, supported and empowered—not make you feel lost or sidelined.

If you disagree, you have several options:

— Ask the school to explain the data and reasoning behind the decision.

— Request an independent educational evaluation (if appropriate).

— Request a meeting to review and revise the IEP/504 plan.

— Use the procedural safeguards your state/district provides (e.g., mediation, due process hearing, complaint).

An advocate can help you weigh the options, gather evidence, prepare for meetings, and support you through formal dispute processes.

Yes. Transitions (grade-to-grade, school-to-school, high-school-to-adult/post-secondary) are critical times. We help you:

— Review your child’s current IEP/504 and ensure transition goals/services are in place.

— Meet with future school staff (or specialist programs) to prep for the shift.

— Map out accommodations, supports, and self-advocacy skills your child will need.

— Monitor post-secondary planning (if applicable): college consulting, course selection, vocational/training options, adult services.