Private Placement Attorney
Concerned your child’s school placement is not working?
When a child is not making progress, parents may start wondering whether the current school placement is appropriate. Maybe the IEP looks good on paper, but your child is still struggling. Maybe the school says it can meet your child’s needs, but the data says otherwise. Maybe you are considering a more restrictive environment or a nonpublic placement because the current program does not have the resources to fully support your child.
Placement decisions are serious, especially when you and the school disagree.
Before you request a different placement or agree to the school’s proposal you should understand your options and evaluate whether the data supports the move.
Shefter Law, P.A. helps parents evaluate the data, determine options, prepare strategically, and decide what steps are needed.
Start with a Free Case Analysis
What is private or nonpublic placement?
In special education, placement refers to the type of environment your child receives special education services. The continuum of services start with the least restrictive environment (LRE), which is your child’s neighborhood school with supports. If your child is not making meaning progress in general education classes, the IEP team needs to consider a more restrictive environment. This means, less time with their general education peers.
A private or nonpublic placement that can be funded by the school district is a separate day school, where all children have IEPs. There is no interaction with general education peers.
It is important to note that not all private schools are placements that can be funded by the school district. Each state usually has a list of approved schools. The schools must be a special education school that can fully implement your child’s IEP.
The details matter. Reviewing the data, your child’s needs, and your desires are important facts to consider. Sometimes your child needs, and the data supports, a nonpublic placement. Sometimes, they do not. It is important to know what data is needed to support your placement desires
When parents contact us about placement
Parents often contact Shefter Law when:
- their child is not making meaningful progress
- the school says it can meet the child’s needs, but the parent disagrees
- the child needs more intensive services or a specialized setting
- the school is refusing to discuss a different placement
- the parent is considering a private or therapeutic school
- the family wants to understand the options on the continuum of services
- the school is proposing a placement the parent does not agree with
If placement is becoming the main issue, the dispute is usually bigger than one meeting. Parents need a clear record, request, and strategy.
Why placement strategy matters
A placement dispute is not just about where a child goes to school.
The question is whether the current program can meet the child’s needs, and does the data support a change in placement. Data includes evaluations, IEP progress reports, behavior reports, and how your child is actually performing academically and behaviorally in school.
Before making a placement decision, parents should understand:
- what the current IEP provides
- whether the child is making progress
- what supports have already been tried
- what the evaluations say the child needs
- what the school is proposing
- what is missing from the current program
- whether additional evaluations or data are needed
- what risks may come with moving forward too quickly
Placement decisions should be based on the child’s needs, not pressure, frustration, or vague promises.
How Shefter Law can help
Shefter Law helps parents with placement disputes and prepare for the next step.
We help families by:
- reviewing the IEP, evaluations, progress reports, private reports, and school records
- identifying concerns with the current placement
- helping you understand what the school is proposing
- discussing whether more evaluations or documentation may be needed
- preparing questions and concerns for an IEP meeting
- helping parents understand possible placement options
- reviewing prior written notices or school decisions
- advising on next steps if the school refuses to consider a different placement
The goal is to help you understand the data, what placement options are available, and what next steps may support your child’s needs.
Start with a Free Case Analysis
The first step is a Free Case Analysis.
During the Case Analysis, our intake team will ask specific questions to learn the basic facts about the placement concerns you are facing, and determine whether Shefter Law may be able to help.
The Case Analysis is a screening step. It is not a legal advice session and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
If your matter is a fit, the next step is a Strategy Session.
The next step: Strategy Session and Action Plan
If your situation is a fit, the next step may be a Strategy Session or Document Review Strategy Session.
If you opt for a Document Review Strategy Session, the attorney will review specific documents before the Strategy Session. We will then have a Strategy Session.
During the Strategy Session, whether you opted for document review or not, you meet with an attorney who reviews your concerns, identifies key legal issues, and explains your options. After the session, you receive a written Action Plan with recommended next steps, questions to ask, and strategies for moving forward. If you opted for a document review, the Action Plan will include comments on the documents that were reviewed.
For placement concerns, your Action Plan will clarify what records to gather, what placement concerns to raise, what questions to ask at the next IEP meeting, and what options may be available if the school refuses to make changes.
If more legal support is needed
Some families only need a Strategy Session and written Action Plan. Others may need additional representation.
During the Strategy Session, the attorney will discuss the types of support Shefter Law can provide. The right level of support depends on your child’s needs, where you are in the placement discussions, and the path you choose to take.
Placement disputes can become complex quickly, so early strategy matters.
PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN MARYLAND AND DC AND ADVOCACY SERVICES NATIONWIDE
Shefter Law, P.A. helps families navigate IEPs, evaluations, school meetings, services, accommodations, placement concerns, and special education disputes.
We provide legal services in Maryland and DC and advocacy services nationwide, including American schools overseas.
Get clear before changing placement
If your child’s current placement is not working, do not make major decisions without understanding the data, risks, and options.
Start with a Free Case Analysis. if your situation is a fit, the next step is a Strategy Session where we can review your concerns, identify key issues, and provide a written Action Plan.