Despite the existence of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that has been in place for 50 years, many parents face acrimonious, heartwrenching, and expensive fights to ensure that their children’s unique needs are met. Debra Tisler, founder of Emergent Literacy and an educator with 30 years of experience, joins the podcast to talk about the obstacles that parents face, the hostile and litigious due process regime, and why Congress has not reauthorized the law for over 20 years. Debra suggests opportunities to better serve students and families, including expanding education freedom programs that enable families to find and afford the best education option for their child’s needs without exhausting and costly lawsuits.

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