Back-To-School  Newsletter 
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STRAIGHT FROM OUR OFFICE:
STRATEGIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR!
The beginning of the school year can be stressful for students and families - but it doesn't have to be! Learn from our experts with decades of experience advocating for children and their educational rights on tips for having a successful school year!

Preparin g for the New School Year
By Michael Connolly, Esq.

Believe it or not, it's that time of year again.  Commercials on television of gleeful parents purchasing school supplies abound as we are quickly approaching the end of the summer and beginning of a new school year.  While every parent of a school-aged child is going through their own pre-school-year checklist of supplies and clothes and trying to get in those last few days of sun and fun, there is another entire set of considerations to think about as a parent of a child with a disability.

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Improving Your Child's IEP Month by Month- September: Addressing Behavioral Difficulties and Discipline
By Jacqueline Lembeck, Esq. 

The beginning of the school year can be a tough time for many students with disabilities. Adjusting back into the rigor and routine of school takes time. Many students go through a difficult transition period when academic task demands are placed upon them again or when adjusting to a new school or classroom. For some students, there is a rise in behavioral and disciplinary incidents at the start of the year which gradually will decrease as the student grows more comfortable in the program. Below are tips to address behavioral difficulties and discipline as they come up.
September Action Items:
  • Keep a record of all behavioral reports including point sheets, detentions, suspensions, and restraints.
  • Consider contacting an attorney if your child is missing educational time due to long or multiple suspensions or if your child is being restrained at school.
  • Review the behavioral supports in your child's program to see if they are adequate.
  • Decide whether to a) wait out the initial transition time or b) request changes now.
  • If changes need to be made now, contact the school team and/or request an IEP meeting.
  • If your child is missing school due to school avoidance or is struggling emotionally, contact his/her school team and fill them in and ask for support.
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For all articles by McAndrews Law Offices, click here.
Upcoming FREE Presentations for Parents and Advocates
Education and Mental Health Clinic

In Conjunction with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Delaware
WHEN - Wednesday, October 4th
TIME - 6:00 to 7:30pm
WHERE - The Brandywine Library
MORE - Attendees are welcome to bring their child's IEP/most recent paperwork for a brief review by a special education attorney from McAndrews Law Offices 

Event Link
Education and IEP Clinic

WHEN - Friday, November 3rd
TIME - 11:00am to 3:00pm
WHERE - Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) - Lebanon Campus
MORE - Attendees are welcome to bring their child's most recent IEP/relevant paperwork for a brief review by a special education attorney from McAndrews Law Offices
Registration - Presentation is free. Registration is requested, but not required. Contact Allyson McAndrews, M.Ed., Director of Marketing and Outreach at amcandrews@mcandrewslaw.com

Fall Happenings!
McAndrews Law Offices, P.C. is a nationally recognized 19-attorney firm that provides families of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area, and New Jersey with exceptional legal representation in Special Education, Estate Planning, and the representation of individuals involved in higher education allegations of misconduct

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