We Need to Demand Better For Our Kids! with Jennifer Coco

The school year is in full swing for most of the country. We want to remind you about your required 30-day transition IEP meeting if your child has transitioned to a new school or new program. If you haven’t been offered this meeting, request it now for a check-in. Even without a transition, you can still request this meeting to get updates on your child’s progress. Don’t delay! Now is the time! Today’s guest has her finger on the pulse of today’s special education programs, support, and funding, and she’s here to help us understand the current situation. Join us!

Jennifer Coco has a background in law and a focused passion for advocating for kids with special needs and disabilities. After starting in the civil rights field, she joined the Southern Poverty Law Center as a special education attorney to tackle systemic challenges in providing equal access and opportunity at the intersection of disability and race. Currently, she serves as the interim executive director of The Center for Learner Equity. This national organization cares deeply about kids with disabilities having equal access to high-quality school choices and opportunity.

Show Highlights:

• THIS moment matters! (“We are at a scary juncture.”)
• Is the infrastructure in place to follow through with the law?
• The federal government is not following through on the provisions of the IDEA.
• Understanding the gap between the provisions and implementation of the IDEA
• Solutions for charter schools in serving kids with disabilities: resources, access, and system capacity
• Jennifer’s approach to championing and advocating for charter schools
• The two biggest problems for charter schools with inclusive education are planning and design.
• Systemic problems affect us all!
• Key takeaways from Jennifer: “Don’t abandon hope! We need to hold hands and demand better for our kids.”
• Get involved!

Resources:

Connect with Jennifer Coco: Website , Jennifer's LinkedIn , and CFLE LinkedIn.

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information about the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org .

Thank you for listening!

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