Divorce and Special Education

Co-parenting responsibilities apply to all types of parents, married or not, and not all parents share the same ideas about what is best for their child. Parental participation is at the heart of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and when a student has divorced parents, it is not often clear about which parent(s) retains the legal authority to make the educational decisions. In most cases, a divorce decree or order identifies a specific parent to make educational decisions for the student. Parents are encouraged to set their differences aside for the benefit of the child’s education.  Effective communication between both parents will help ensure your child is getting the best possible outcome with their education. For more information on this topic review the links below:

When parents of children with special needs divorce

LDonline: Divorce: It Can Complicate Children’s Special Education Issues

FERPA and divorced parents

Types of custody arrangements in Utah