The Advocacy Institute is working to help parents understand key provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and ways they can use these provisions to help improve the academic achievement of children who struggle to learn.

These products, written by The Advocacy Institute, are available FREE of charge:

Why Students with Disabilities Need No Child Left Behind. The Advocacy Institute perspective on how NCLB is having positive impact on the nation's 7 million students with disabilities. (PDF, 8 pgs) Get it here.

Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards. This easy-to-understand booklet, produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes, provides parents with information about alternate assessment options allowable under No Child Left Behind. Get it here. (PDF, 22 pgs)

NCLB and IDEA: What Parents of Students with Disabilities Need to Know and Do. This information brief, produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes, provides parents with an understanding of important provisions of NCLB and IDEA designed to work together to improve academic performance for students with disabilities. Get it here. (PDF, 23 pgs)

Making the "No Child Left Behind Act" Work for Children Who Struggle to Learn
This 23 page booklet introduces parents to several key parts of NCLB that they can use as tools to improve educational services for their child. Get it here. (PDF)

Understanding Assessment Options for IDEA-eligible Students
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of the ways students with IEPs can participate in statewide tests required by NCLB, helps guide parents as the IEP team chooses the right types of assessments and offers questions to ask about the testing options. Get it here. (PDF)

Determining Appropriate Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of appropriate accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 Plans, serves as a guide to choosing accommodations and suggests questions to ask when making appropriate accommodation decisions. Get it here. (PDF)

Making the Most of Options for IDEA-eligible Students
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of the school choice and supplemental educational services opportunities that might be available to students, and highlights important points for consideration and questions to ask. Get it here. (PDF)

Rewards and Roadblocks: How Special Education Students are Faring Under No Child Left Behind. The new report, a product of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, provides a compelling look at how several NCLB requirements have affected this important and often controversial student group. Get it here. (PDF, 26 pgs)

Challenging Change: How Schools and Districts are Improving the Performance of Special Education Students. The new report, a product of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, takes a look at how 2 schools and 3 districts are making changes to improve the academic performance of students with disabilities. Get it here. (PDF, 30 pgs)

International Dyslexia Association Perspectives on Language and Literacy (Volume 34, No. 4, Fall, 2008)
"Meaningful Accountability for Students with Dyslexia"

The issue was developed by guest theme co-editors Candace Cortiella, Director at The Advocacy Institute, and Rachel Quenemoen, Senior Research Fellow and national technical assistance team leader at the National Center on Educational Outcomes. Read the issue summary and list of featured articles here.

IDEA 2004 Close Up:
Information Series for Parents and Advocates

A series of short, parent friendly articles on key provisions of IDEA 2004 and specific changes that parents and advocates should know and understand. Written by The Advocacy Institute for GreatSchools.net, the IDEA 2004 Close Up series is available FREE of charge:

The Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Aligning the IEP and Academic Content Standards to Improve Academic Achievement

Transition Planning

Disciplining Students with Disabilities

Highly Qualified Teachers

Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools

Specific Learning Disabilities Evaluation and Eligibility

Extended School Year (ESY) Services

Additional Resources:

Parent Guide to IDEA 2004:
This guide uses accessible language to help parents understand their rights and responsibilities in the special education process and includes a series of audio clips of parents sharing their special education experiences. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Available online and in PDF. Go to the Guide.

A Parent's Guide to Response-to-Intervention:
IDEA 2004 includes a new provision that allows states and school districts to use high quality, research-based instruction in general and special education to provide services and interventions to students who struggle with learning and may be at risk or suspected of having learning disabilities. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, this guide provides an overview of the RTI process, describe how it is implemented in schools and offer questions that parents can ask. (PDF only) Get it here.

Understanding the Standards-based Individualized Education Program (IEP):
This guide provides an overview of a process and document that is framed by the state standards and that contains annual goals aligned with, and chosen to facilitate the student’s achievement of, state gradelevel academic standards. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. (PDF only) Get it here.

Parent's Guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
This guide provides an overview of universal design for learning, an important movement in education. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Get it here

Mini-Guide on Alternative Dispute Resolution:
This guide provides provide special education advocates and parents with information about the policies in place to implement Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) activities as encouraged or required under IDEA 2004. In addition, this guide outlines some of the current issues advocates and parents have identified in using ADR provisions and offers practical ideas and strategies that may assist in overcoming barriers to resolving disagreements.(PDF only, 10 pgs) Get it here.

Exceptional Parent magazine

The Advocacy Institute writes a monthly column for Exceptional Parent magazine, the award-winning family and professional journal for the special needs community.

Read our Exceptional Parent magazine articles on these important topics:

No Child Left Behind and Students with Disabilities
Using NCLB and IDEA to Ensure That Your Child's Teacher is "Highly Qualified"
Summary of Performance: A New Tool for Successful Transitions
NAEP: What Is It and Why Should You Care
What You Need to Know About NIMAS
Federal Funding for Special Education
Excusing IEP Team Members: Why, When, Who, and How
Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools
Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools Using Mediation
Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities and Standards-based Curriculum: Why Now? Why Not?
Independent Educational Evaluations
New Federal Law Promotes Success in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (also available in Audio format)
Special Education Funds Receives Major Boost from Recovery Act (also available in Audio format)

Requests to reprint Exceptional Parent articles written by The Advocacy Institute should be directed to Jan Hollingsworth, Managing Editor.