Tami Kuipers MCA Spedlaw

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Pt9vJzuuH/

The moves, three people briefed on the plan say, are part of an effort to close the department by moving its functions to other parts of the government.

06/10/2026

Now that it's summertime, we don't want to think about school. But it's the perfect time to review your child's IEP or 504 plan and make sure everything is set for the next school year. Any questions? Give us a call, and we can help you review or answer them. Matt Cohen & Associates 866-787-9270.

04/21/2026

Matt Cohen & Associates Did you know that we have both attorneys AND advocates on staff to assist you? Call us to discuss your IEP or 504 plan questions. Elizabeth Hooper MCA Spedlaw Christine Palmieri MCA Spedlaw Jill Calian MCA Spedlaw Kim Milburn MCA ADA Law

04/21/2026

Spring is a great time to get ready for that next school year and make sure your IEP is in good shape.

In our office we frequently review IEPs. Often, we raise deficiencies in these goals in the due process complaints that we file on behalf of our clients. Defective goals can form the basis of a claim that the district failed to provide an appropriate educational program. The most common flaws in these goals are that they are immeasurable, lack baselines, or are compound in nature. A group called Special Education Community posted this helpful checklist of IEP issues that I've pasted below. I'd add one more to this list: goals that are not sufficiently ambitious. We sometimes see goals that simply set the bar too low, for example, requiring a student to achieve a skill that is barely beyond what the student has already mastered. Other objectives may allow for an excessive amount of adult prompting, or set mastery criteria that are not rigorous (e.g., 60% accuracy in 3/5 opportunities). Goals that are not rigorous do not meet the standard set in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District. As the Supreme Court said, "[an] educational program must be appropriately ambitious in light of [the child's] circumstances.... the goals may differ, but every child should have the chance to meet challenging objectives." Our children deserve no less.