Get help when your child’s school is not meeting their needs.

When your child is struggling in school, the process can feel overwhelming. You may be dealing with IEP meetings, 504 Plan concerns, denied evaluations, weak goals, missing services, school discipline, placement disputes, mediation, or due process.

Parents are often told to “wait and see”, trust the school’s process, or accept a plan that does not feel right. But when your child is not making progress, you need more than reassurance. You need clarity, strategy, and a plan.

Shefter Law, P.A. helps Maryland families navigate special education issues involving IEPs, 504 Plans, evaluations, services, accommodations, placement, discipline, mediation, and due process complaints.

Start with a Free Case Analysis

Special education legal help for Maryland families

Special education issues can affect every part of a child’s school experience.  Whether it is academic, social, behavioral, or a combination, each one can change your child’s view on school.

For parents, the hard part is knowing what to do next.

• Should you request an evaluation?
• Should you agree to the proposed IEP?
• Is the 504 Plan enough?
• Is the school following the plan?
• Is your child making meaningful progress?
• Do you need mediation, due process, or another step?

Shefter Law helps parents understand the issue, organize their concerns, and decide what steps are needed.

When Maryland parents contact us

Parents often contact Shefter Law when:

• the school refuses to evaluate their child, even if the child has Autism, anxiety, dyslexia, ADHD or other diagnoses 
• the child has an IEP but is not making progress
• the IEP goals are vague, repeated, or not measurable
• services or accommodations are missing
• the school is not following the IEP or 504 Plan
• the school wants to reduce or remove services
• the child is struggling with behavior or school refusal
• the parent disagrees with the school’s placement proposal
• the school scheduled a manifestation determination review meeting
• mediation or due process is being discussed
• the parent feels ignored, rushed, or outnumbered in meetings

If you are stuck in repeated meetings with marginal change, it may be time to acquire legal help before making any school decision.

How Shefter Law can help

Shefter Law helps Maryland parents with a range of special education related needs, including:

• IEP meeting preparation and representation
• 504 Plan meeting preparation and representation
• school evaluation concerns
• eligibility disputes
• services and accommodation concerns
• placement disputes
• school discipline and manifestation determination review (MDR) meetings
• special education mediation
• due process complaints
• parent coaching and document review
• written strategy and next-step planning

The goal is not to make every school issue more adversarial. The goal is to help parents understand what is happening, what the school is proposing, and what options may be available.

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 school issues 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 situation 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, decisions you will need to make and strategies for moving forward.  If you opted for a document review, the Action Plan will include comments on the documents that were reviewed.

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, the school issues, the timeline, and the path you choose to take

Common Maryland special education issues

IEP problems

An IEP should be based on your child’s needs. If the goals are vague, services are missing, progress is limited, or the school is not implementing the plan, parents should ask questions before accepting more of the same.

504 Plan concerns

A 504 Plan may provide accommodations, but some students need more than accommodations. If your child needs specialized instruction, related services, or more intensive support, it may be time to discuss whether an IEP is appropriate.

Evaluation disputes

Evaluations drive eligibility, goals, services, and placement. If the school refuses to evaluate, delays evaluation, or relies on incomplete information, the entire plan may be affected.  If there parents disagree with the results, there are options.

Placement disputes

Placement should be connected to your child’s needs. If the current placement is not working or the school is proposing a placement you disagree with, get strategy before agreeing.

Discipline and behavior issues

Suspensions, removals, manifestation determination review meetings, and repeated behavior incidents can have serious consequences. If your child has an IEP and discipline is becoming an issue, timing is crucial.

Mediation and due process

When school disputes escalate, parents may need to consider mediation, due process, or other legal options. These steps require preparation, documentation, and a clear understanding of what outcome the family is seeking.

Serving families across Maryland

Shefter Law, P.A. works with families across Maryland, including, but not limited to, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Howard County, Frederick County, Calvert County, Charles County Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City.

If your child attends a Maryland public school and you are concerned about an IEP, 504 Plan, evaluation, placement, discipline, mediation, or due process issue, start with a Free Case Analysis so we can determine whether Shefter Law may be able to help.

Get clear before your next school decision

You do not have to keep walking into school meetings confused, frustrated, or unsure what to ask for.

Start with a Free Case Analysis. If your matter 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.

Start with a Free Case Analysis