Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

What happens when you find yourself asking, “Can the school do that?” In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — Special Education Boss and author of The Epic IEP — breaks down one of the most common (and frustrating) questions in special education. Karen explains the difference between what schools can do, what they should do, and what’s legally enforceable under IDEA and FAPE. Drawing from nearly...

Who did Karen Mayer Cunningham write The Epic IEP for—and why? In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen opens up about the heart and mission behind her brand-new book, The Epic IEP —a powerful, actionable playbook for parents, educators, and advocates who sit at the IEP table. For nearly three decades, Karen has trained thousands to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. But...

Are districts allowed to require teletherapy or virtual delivery for your child’s IEP services? Today, I’m unpacking what IDEA actually requires about how services are delivered—and why “remote-only” isn’t a blanket substitute for direct, in-person services when schools are open. We walk through the federal requirements (34 CFR §300.320/.324) in plain language—no legalese—and use real meeting scri...

Is homework required by law ? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — breaks down one of the most common questions families bring to the IEP table: “Is homework legal, and what happens when it causes more harm than help?” Karen explains what IDEA, ESSA, and state laws actually say about homework (spoiler: nothing requires it). She also answers real questions from pa...

Karen Mayer Cunningham, Special Education Boss®, trains everyone at the 504 and IEP table to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes. In this episode, she addresses one of the most common questions in special education: Is homework required for students with disabilities? From there, Karen answers a series of real-world Questions of the Day , offering clarity and actionable steps on top...

Can a parent dismiss a member of the IEP team? What if a related service provider says “nothing’s changing” — do they still have to attend? In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham explains who must attend every IEP meeting , when you can legally excuse someone, and how to protect your child’s educational rights when team members are missing. You’ll learn: The five feder...

What Goes in an IEP? Present Levels + Questions of the Day In this powerful episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down exactly what belongs inside an IEP — and why understanding the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance is critical to getting it right for every child. Karen walks through the four required components of the IEP under federal law (IDEA §300.324), explain...

What do you do when your school refuses to test, your teacher isn’t certified, or your child’s IEP goals aren’t being met? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers real parent and teacher questions about evaluations, progress reports, 504 Plans, IEP goals, behavioral supports, and everything in between—with humor, heart, and straight talk. ✨ In this episode: IEP report car...

n this episode of Ask the Advocate , Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, dives deep into the questions flooding her inbox every week — from paraprofessionals and IEP goals to compensatory services, parent rights, and what really happens when the law isn’t followed. Joined by Cindy, Karen breaks down complex special education issues with humor, honesty, and heart. You’ll learn how...

Walking into an IEP meeting without a plan is how we end up tabling, redoing, and wasting time. In today’s TT Lunch Live, Karen lays out her exact meeting modality—what to request, what to review, and how to build an EPIC IEP that actually drives progress. What we cover: The four documents Karen always has open: last FIE, 36 weeks of progress reports, last annual IEP, and the current draft How to...

Join Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, for a powerful panel Q&A and discussion covering real special education questions from parents, advocates, and professionals across the country. In this open conversation, Karen tackles critical issues facing families and educators — from IEP rights to retaliation policies, advanced classes, AAC devices, and more — all with her signatur...

What happens when real parents and educators bring real IEP and 504 questions to the table? In this Live Q&A episode , Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss® , answers rapid-fire questions straight from families and professionals navigating the special education process. From 504 Plans and IEP violations to placement decisions, behavior supports, and discrimination scenarios , Kar...

In this Ask The Advocate session, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions on everything from paraprofessionals and “direct supervision” to prior written notice (PWN), Child Find, reconvenes, data access, and how to handle placements when needs don’t match the setting. She also shares a quick update from Capitol Hill on IDEA funding and accountability. Key reminders: “Have to” isn’t a l...

Need a quick caffeine boost for your advocacy? In this Latte & Learn session, Karen Mayer Cunningham and Cindy dig into the “dirty four-letter word” in special education— DATA —and why decisions at the IEP table must be driven by it. You’ll hear real questions from parents and teachers on preschool IEP prep, paraprofessional roles, behavior supports, homeschool vs. public school, reconvenes, d...

Ever wish you could ask Karen Mayer Cunningham all your special education questions — and get straight answers, fast? This episode is for you. 💥 Join Karen for a rapid-fire Q&A covering real parent and teacher questions about IEPs, 504s, paraprofessionals, behavior, homeschool transitions, private school rights, suspensions, and more. Karen brings her trademark humor, clarity, and tough-love...

In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, walks you through what happens after you receive your child’s evaluation results and how to prepare for your eligibility and IEP meeting with confidence. Karen explains what to look for in each section of your FIE—from speech and language to cognitive, adaptive, achievement, and related services—and how to make sure your questio...

When it comes to IEP meetings, three key elements can make or break the process: Time, Prep, and Participation. In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, unpacks what parents, educators, and advocates need to know to ensure these rights are respected. Too often, parents are told the meeting has already been scheduled, drafts are withheld, or their concerns will just be...

Parents often feel rushed, dismissed, or unprepared when it comes to IEP meetings—but under IDEA, you have rights that guarantee your time, preparation, and full participation. In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what she calls the TPP of IEPs : ✨ Time – Why IEP meetings must be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time , not just whenever the school dec...

How do you know if your child is entitled to a special education evaluation? In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss® , breaks down the Child Find mandate under IDEA (34 CFR §300.111) and what it means for families. 👉 If your child is struggling—academically, emotionally, behaviorally, or with memory, communication, or attention—you have the right to request testing. S...

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 th...

What if girls learned early that their identity sits on an unshakeable foundation—not a number on a scale or a grade on a test? In this conversation, Karen sits down with Dr. Tiff Watson —performance coach, sports psych pro, and author of Your Unique FIZEEK! A Girl’s Guide to Faith, Fuel, and Finding Your Superpowers —to talk food–mood connections, confidence, and practical tools for families and...

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...

SDI isn’t a buzzword—it’s the heart of special education. In this episode, Karen breaks down why special education = specially designed instruction (SDI) , how SDI is different from accommodations, and the exact questions to ask in your IEP meeting to reveal what’s really being taught, how, by whom, and when. You’ll learn: Why SDI is instruction (not an accommodation or simple “differentiation”) T...

In this Related Services session, Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down what IDEA really says about services that support a student’s access to FAPE—and how schools should write and deliver them. What we cover: Physical Therapy in schools vs medical/therapeutic models (what PT is and isn’t in an IEP; realistic frequency and access needs) Psychological Services vs Counseling as a Related Service (defi...

Karen Mayer Cunningham’s new book, The Epic IEP™: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates Navigating the Special Education Process , is here! 📚 This episode of Ask the Advocate is dedicated to unpacking why this book is a game-changer, how it equips parents, teachers, and advocates to sit confidently at the IEP/504 table, and what makes The Epic IEP™ different from anything else...