What Every Parent Needs to Know About IEEs, LRE, and IEP Minutes | Ask the Advocate

f your child’s IEP feels incomplete, confusing, or delayed—you are not alone. In this episode of Ask the Advocate, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles rapid-fire questions from parents, educators, and advocates facing real-world special education challenges.

✨ Inside this episode:

• What makes present levels “pristine, prescriptive, and puffy” (and why most are pitiful).
• Paraprofessional roles: what the law actually says about direct supervision.
• How to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)—and who pays for it.
• LRE vs. self-contained: when mainstreaming is appropriate, and when it isn’t.
• FBAs, BIPs, and behavior—why responses aren’t enough without interventions.
• 504 vs. IEP: the real differences and why settling for accommodations often fails students.
• Transportation, speech/assistive technology minutes, and what happens when schools are out of compliance.
• Discipline, manifestation meetings, and the truth about DAEP placements.

📘 Karen also introduces her brand-new book, The Epic IEP™—a powerful playbook for parents, educators, and advocates. Pre-order now and unlock $500+ in exclusive bonuses: https://theepiciep.com

➡️ Next step for families & advocates:
Join The Academy for weekly live coaching and 250+ hours of professional development: Enroll in The Epic IEP™ Academy

📩 Need an advocate to attend meetings or review records? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com

When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. —Karen Mayer Cunningham