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Special Education Parent Resources
Frederick County Public Schools is committed to making every effort to meet each child’s unique needs. There are many options available to support you as a parent/guardian of a child with an IEP. Please review the following questions and resources below to assist you further.
Work directly with your child’s school: Contact your child’s IEP case manager or teacher, the IEP chair of the building, or your child’s principal.
Work with the Office of Special Education to resolve a disagreement: If you have any concerns regarding the IEP process, the Office of Special Education can help. You can ask for an Informal IEP Review (see review process here), which may help resolve disagreements with your child’s school, by submitting a FCPS Special Education Informal Review Request (Solicitud de Revisión Informal de Educación Especial de FCPS).
Contact the Ombuds: The FCPS Ombuds is available to families. The Ombuds is chosen by the Board of Education to help resolve concerns.
Sabrina Nail
Ombuds for Frederick County Public Schools
Ombuds@fcps.org
(301) 696-6852
Contact the Family Support Staff/Partners for Success:
Partners for Success provides information to parents and families to work as partners with FCPS. They:
- Increase parent involvement in the early intervention and special education process;
- Provide information and training;
- Assist families with their concerns and decision making; and
- Provide information and resources.
Partners for Success Contact:
Rachel Spicer
Community Liaison, Special Education
Partners.ForSuccess@fcps.org
240-236-8744
As a parent or guardian, you can file a complaint beyond FCPS. The Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch (FSDR) of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has family support specialists who respond to concerns, assist parents with early intervention and special education, and connect parents with resources and staff who can help them. The Branch also oversees dispute resolution. The Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services (DEI/SES) staff investigate and resolve formal complaints regarding special education. They also keep data and reports on dispute resolution processes.
The following are Dispute Resolution Resources:
- Special Education State Complaint Resolution Procedures
- IDEA Dispute Resolution Processes Comparison Chart
- State Complaint Form - Part B (Ages 3-21)
- State Complaint Form - Part C (Ages Birth-3)
- Request for Mediation and Due Process Complaint Form
- Listing of Free or Low Cost Assistance for Special Education Disputes
- A Parent's Guide to Frequently Asked Questions about Special Education State Complaints
- A Parent's Guide to Frequently Asked Questions about Special Education Mediation
- A Parent's Guide to Frequently Asked Questions about Special Education Due Process Complaints
Additionally, this page has related resources.
The resolution options listed above are also outlined in the Maryland Procedural Safeguards.
The MSDE Family Support Section of the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch, responds to parent inquiries, assists parents with navigating Maryland's early intervention and special education systems, and provides parents with school system resources.
MSDE contact:
Ken Hudock
Section Chief, Family Support Services
Maryland State Department of Education
Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services
410-767-0255 or kenneth.hudock@maryland.gov
Introduction to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) in FCPS
Parents are the most important people in their child's education. They offer guidance and direction and make critical decisions for their children and engaged parents and families are the cornerstone of each and every child's academic success. This video outlines the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process for families. Check it out.
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