What happens when you have a homebound student and escalating parent behavior? Even when a parent’s conduct is the roadblock, the district’s obligation to implement the IEP does not disappear, so the move is to change what you can control. Erin and Jeremy review a relevant case from Washington State and share practical tips on when to reconvene the IEP team to consider a placement that can actually be implemented, how to use strong prior written notice, and how to set communication boundaries or campus restrictions without cutting off parent participation. This is a great time to pressure-test your protocols before the next crisis hits.

If you're looking for more on this topic, we've covered it here: On the Call: Navigating Parent Communications and On the Call: Parent Participation.

That’s a wrap on a milestone season! Thank you to all our listeners for being part of more than 70 episodes and 15,000 downloads. We hope you have a restful, recharging summer, and be sure to catch up on any of the episodes you may have missed! Erin and Jeremy will be back in August!

On the Call: SLAPP A classroom disruption sparks a parent letter packed with phrases like “prompt action” and “least restrictive environment,” and suddenly everyone’s asking: Who do we respond to, what can we say, and how do we protect staff without spilling confidential student information? In this episode, Erin and Jeremy review key takeaways from a recent case in Massachusetts and what it signals about parent petitioning, anti-SLAPP protections, and school communications. They break down what schools can address publicly, how to keep communications in the right lane, and practical ways to support staff while protecting student privacy.

A little yelling, a lot of feelings, and one big legal question: MTSS and RTI or IDEA, which controls? School staff know that a student's involvement in MTSS or RTI does not always mean the student has a disability. But sometimes, parents might not see the difference. This episode breaks down when schools can be on the hook for utilizing MTSS or RTI in place of an evaluation under IDEA, and offers practical tips for conversations with families and staff when engaging in the MTSS or RTI process.

Here's the past episode Jeremy and Erin reference: Season 4, Episode 11 Twice Exceptional.

Here's a link to the children's book Jeremy references in this episode!

Parents want the best. The law wants appropriate. In this episode, Jeremy and Erin explore how those aren’t always the same thing and why giving in to a preferred methodology can sometimes create more problems than it solves. From music therapy to methodology myths, they break down what IDEA really requires (and what it doesn’t).

Looking for more on this topic? Check out this earlier episode: Season 3, Episode 13 Methodology.

When “a class within a class” becomes reality, what’s a district supposed to do? In this episode, Jeremy and Erin dig into the legal and practical considerations that come with moving a student from general education to a self‑contained environment. They walk through what teams must consider, what districts can do, and how to make sure support ends up where it’s most effective. A shift in placement isn’t about giving up; it’s about matching services to student needs in a defensible, well‑documented way.

Looking for more on this topic? Check out: Season 4, Episode 8: On the Call: Safety Fears and LRE Considerations, and Season 4, Episode 1: Kindergarten IAES

What happens when a student with an IEP is caught with weed at school, and everyone says, “We don’t need an MDR! It’s drugs!”? In this episode, Jeremy and Erin unpack a federal court decision that turned that approach upside down. They talk discipline days, interim placements, settlement agreements that come back to haunt you, and how to keep your district out of the crosshairs while still holding students accountable. Spoiler Alert: “Ignore the IEP until this blows over” is not a winning strategy.

Looking for more on MDR? Check out these episodes:

• Season 1, Episode 1: On the Call: MDR Basics
• Season 2, Episode 11: On the Call: MDR Unidentified Student and Request for Evaluation

That’s a wrap on a milestone season! Thank you to all our listeners for being part of more than 70 episodes and 15,000 downloads. We hope you have a restful, recharging summer, and be sure to catch up on any of the episodes you may have missed! Erin and Jeremy will be back in August!

A sock full of rocks and a hallway surprise,
One clunky, thunky moment that opened some eyes.
Erin and Jeremy dive in deep
To a Wisconsin case where the problems ran steep.

A reevaluation? Too narrow in scope.
A BIP untouched, and there went the hope.
What started as one small safety blip
Turned quickly to FAPE starting to slip.

When manifestations found, what must teams do?
How wide should the reevaluation review?
With practical pointers, steady and sound,
They map the next steps when behavior comes around!

*Be sure to check out the earlier episodes related to this topic: Season 1, Episode 1: On the Call: MDR Basics and Season 2, Episode 11: On the Call: MDR Unidentified Student and Request for Evaluation

A substitute walks into a classroom, and the documentation walks out the door. In this episode, Erin and Jeremy explore how staffing shortages, substitute coverage, and inconsistent service logs can lead to materials failures to implement an IEP. They dive into a case in which missing logs and missing staff led to a denial of FAPE. They share practical strategies for tracking service delivery, preparing substitutes, and communicating service gaps when your team is in flux.

Want additional information on this topic? Be sure to check out this earlier episode from Season One!