Ask the Advocate: Cell Phones, Resource Minutes, ESY, STAR Test & Tough IEP Questions

What happens when a school tries to take away a diabetic student’s cell phone used for monitoring? Or when IEP goals are written at only the 20th percentile? Or when districts “table” evaluation requests for months?In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers rapid-fire questions from parents and teachers, bringing clarity, humor, and straight talk to situations families face every day.✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:Why every child with diabetes needs an IEP and what travel training goals can look like.The truth about teachers acting as “advocates” and what’s legal vs. risky.How to file systemic complaints when paraprofessionals are pulled and minutes aren’t met.Why a goal at 20% fluency is never okay—and what baselines and progress monitoring should include.ESY: why the expectation is to maintain gains, not start from scratch.STAR testing: why it’s more about money than education (and why “nobody cares” about your score).“Homebound as needed”: what it does—and does not—mean.PWN: when you should demand it (spoiler: almost always).Why LRE is not synonymous with gen ed—and how to reframe the conversation.What to do if a teacher withholds food from your child (and why it’s never acceptable).👉 Join us for live professional development every Monday inside The Academy:Join The Academy👉 Register for The EPIC IEP Intensive – Sept. 27–28, 2025: Register Here👉 Subscribe and catch every new episode“When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.” — Karen Mayer Cunningham Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Epic IEP™ Academy First month free, after that, cancel anytime. 📱 Follow Karen on:TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationbossYouTube: Special Education Academy🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence.📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)Because when...