Ask the Advocate Blog

Maureen Brown Maureen Brown

Ask the Advocate Skool

If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to navigate your child’s IEP, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Inside Ask the Advocate on Skool, I’ve created a space where parents can learn, ask questions, and get real support when it matters most.

This isn’t just information—it’s strategy.

With two membership options, you can choose the level of support that fits your needs:

✔ Standard ($19/month):
Build your foundation with lessons, IEP and 504 resources, evaluation guidance, and weekly office hours.

✔ Premium ($97/month):
Get deeper support with live access, case studies, real-world advocacy strategies, and direct guidance for high-stakes situations.

Whether you’re just starting out or dealing with a complex placement issue, this community is designed to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

👉 Join the community here: https://www.skool.com/ask-the-advocate/about

Start learning. Start advocating. And stop doing this alone.

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Maureen Brown Maureen Brown

Bringing School District Funding to the TableConsultation Services for National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) Programs & Private Schools

What Ask the Advocate can help programs with

  • District Funding Strategy for Therapeutic & Private Schools

  • Advocacy Consultation for National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs Programs

  • IEP & FAPE Alignment Review

  • Family Education on Public Funding Pathways

  • Case Positioning & Documentation Guidance

  • District-Facing Communication Strategy

  • Professional Development & On-Site Training

  • Ethical Funding Frameworks That Reduce Conflict

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BSEA Hearings, FAPE, Language Based Programs, Independent Education Evaluations, Need for Experts, Dyslexia, Orton Gillingham, Electic Appoarch to Reading, Testing Data Maureen Brown BSEA Hearings, FAPE, Language Based Programs, Independent Education Evaluations, Need for Experts, Dyslexia, Orton Gillingham, Electic Appoarch to Reading, Testing Data Maureen Brown

In Re: Evan & Belmont Public Schools (BSEA #25-11078) — Decision 8/19/2025

📢 BSEA Decision Update
In Evan v. Belmont Public Schools (BSEA #25-11078), the Hearing Officer ruled that Belmont’s IEPs for 2024–25 and 2025–26 were reasonably calculated to provide FAPE in the least restrictive environment. Parents’ request for reimbursement for unilateral placement at Carroll School was denied. The case highlights how progress data and “snapshot in time” standards weigh heavily in FAPE determinations.

#SpecialEducation #BSEA #FAPE #Dyslexia #ParentAdvocacy

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Maureen Brown Maureen Brown

What the “Fifth Grade Reading Level” Comment in a BSEA Case Reveals About Denial of FAPE

In this breakdown of the pivotal BSEA case In Re: Desmond & Dracut Public Schools, we examine how the district’s dismissal of dyslexia needs—highlighted by a staff member’s claim that students only need to read at a “4th or 5th-grade level”—led to a ruling in favor of private placement. Learn how parents can identify denial of FAPE, gather the right data, and push for out-of-district placement when public schools fall short.

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