The Alliance's Special Education Program assists foster children with disabilities access appropriate educational placements and support services. Local school districts are under a mandate to provide each special education student with a free appropriate public education ("FAPE") tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. Children in foster care with disabilities face unique challenges within the special education system. For example, because of numerous foster care placement changes, many of their important school documents may be lost or they are often not tested appropriately or often enough for their service providers to have an adequate understanding of their needs. In addition, these children are more likely than other students with disabilities to have inappropriate educational programs due to not having a consistent and knowledgeable caregiver to successfully advocate for their needs. Because of this dual disadvantage of being a student with a disability who is also in the foster care system, many of these children are in desperate need of advocacy to ensure that they have appropriate educational programs. This training will discuss the basic substantive and procedural law related to special education advocacy, particularly as it relates to foster children. Attendees will have the opportunity to represent children in obtaining an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Special education cases require a time commitment of approximately 25 to 35 hours over a period of approximately three months, and pro bono attorneys are trained in special education advocacy. Individuals interested in this field do not need to be licensed in California to undertake this advocacy.

Individuals interested in attending should contact Diego Cartagena at d.cartagena@kids-alliance.org, or at 213-368-6010.