Ask the Advocate: Mid-Year Wake-Up Call + Your Top IEP Questions Answered

We’re back with a no-holds-barred Ask the Advocate episode—and this one is fire. Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, is answering your most-asked questions with the clarity, humor, and wisdom you’ve come to expect.Spoiler: It’s July. That means we’re in the second half of the year—and there’s still time to get in the game and fight for your child’s rights.In this episode:How long schools have to evaluate your child (and what “school days” really mean)Whether a school can ignore a private evaluationWhy behavior issues and good grades don’t cancel each other outThe real job of a paraprofessionalWhat to do when an aide is helping other students instead of yoursThe truth about MDRs, ESY, speech-only IEPs, and testing timelinesWhy “buckle down and listen” isn’t a valid intervention—and what to do insteadThe difference between a diagnosis and eligibilityWhen and how to file a state complaintPlus:✅ Download our APP in your APP store, search ... Special Education Academy app✅ A 50% OFF code for the 2-Day Intensive On-Demand (use code JULY at checkout!)✅ Details on our in-person Florida training (July 19–20) and the Group Mastermind starting July 27🎯 This episode is packed with practical strategies and powerful reminders that you are the expert on your child—and we’ve got your back. 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...