The 5 Pillars of an Amazing IEP

Welcome back to Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham, where we train everyone who sits at the 504 and IEP table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes.

In this episode, Karen breaks down the five foundational pillars of a powerful IEP, equipping parents, educators, and advocates with the tools to understand what belongs in the IEP — and what doesn’t.

📚 From decoding the legal language to understanding how to actually implement supports that move the needle, Karen walks you through:

• The #1 question every parent must ask before writing an IEP.
• What to include in the initial evaluation request — and what most schools leave out.
• Why speech and language to include pragmatics is a non-negotiable in your testing.
• The three Ps of quality evaluations (Pristine, Prescriptive, and Puffy!).
• The eight areas of testing you should always request.
• The difference between academic performance and educational need.
• What Present Levels should really look like (hint: not a copy-paste of the last report card).
• How to write goals that are appropriately ambitious in light of the child’s unique circumstances.
• Why most accommodation pages are a mess (and how to fix them).
• What “least restrictive environment” is not — and why general ed is not always the answer.
• Why para support alone does not equal special education.
• The truth about FAPE and what it actually means for your child.

Karen also shares: 

✔️ When to revisit your IEP mid-year (especially before transitions) 

✔️ How to hold the team accountable to timelines and testing obligations 

✔️ How to use your voice, your data, and your knowledge to drive outcomes — not emotion

Whether you're new to the process or you've been in it for years, this episode will give you the roadmap to step confidently into your next meeting — and walk out with clarity, not confusion.

🗣️ Karen says it best:
"We're not trying to make the disability disappear — we're teaching strategies to self-manage it."

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👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®
Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.

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