Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham

In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—answers your most pressing special education questions with clarity, humor, and straight-to-the-point strategies you can take to the IEP or 504 table. From dyslexia progress monitoring to behavior plans and field trip access, Karen reminds us: parents don’t have to settle for “we don’t do that here.” The law, the...

In Session 2 of our OSEP Letters series, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—breaks down Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) : what they are, when to request one, who chooses the evaluator, how districts must respond, and how to use OSEP guidance to keep your team compliant. Using the February 20, 2004 OSEP letter to Dr. Parker , Karen covers: When an IEE is triggered: after...

Happy Monday, Advocates! In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham—The Special Education Boss®—tackles another round of rapid-fire questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country. From recess rights to PCS plans, and from tardy notes to 1:1 aides, Karen brings clarity, humor, and real strategies you can use in the IEP/504 process today. ✨ In this episode, you’ll...

Karen kicks off a multi-part series on must-know guidance letters from the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Today’s focus: the Dec 20, 2013 letter about twice-exceptional (2e) students and how states may—and may not —determine Specific Learning Disability (SLD) eligibility under IDEA. What you’ll learn: Why high cognition does not disqualify a student from IDEA eligibility. The tw...

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...

Are your IEP meeting notes inaccurate? Has your child been placed on a 504 when you know an IEP is needed? Are you being told your student can’t get transportation or that grades prevent eligibility? You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to. In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, answers real parent and teacher questions about IDEA, IEPs, 5...

Are you sitting at the IEP or 504 table feeling unprepared, overwhelmed, or unsure of your rights?  You don’t know what you don’t know—but you need to.  In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, The Special Education Boss®, tackles your most pressing questions with clarity, humor, and no-nonsense advocacy strategies. From discipline laws in Texas to IEP services not being implement...

Paraprofessionals change lives—but confusion about their role can lead to serious violations. In this training, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, explains exactly what federal law requires so teams can support students properly and protect FAPE. What you’ll learn: Why paras must work under the direct supervision of a certified teacher How to identify when districts are using par...

New school year, clean slate. Before the meetings start, let’s get crystal clear on your reason (your “why”), your expected outcomes, and how you’ll get there—so your child actually receives an educational benefit (the standard in IDEA), not just more paperwork. In this episode, Karen walks you through the four anchors for preparing an effective school year: Your “Why” – Why your child has a 504 o...

Do you know your rights? In this Ask the Advocate Q&A, Karen tackles the most common—and confusing—special education questions parents face, from eligibility and evaluations to services, placement, and what to do when the school says “no.” In this episode: OHI vs. SLD — what they mean, how they’re determined, and why it’s not “either/or.” ADHD — 504 accommodations vs. when an IEP is warranted...

Feeling lost in the maze of special education? In this Ask the Advocate episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham answers rapid-fire questions about IEP signatures, extended school year (ESY), RTI, para support, compensatory time, evaluations, and more. Get clear, direct, and empowering guidance every parent and advocate needs. Inside this episode: ✅ Why there’s no such thing as implied consent in an IEP...

What is Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) — and why is it the foundation of special education? In this brand-new series, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, breaks down one of the most misunderstood (and misused) concepts in IDEA: special education is specially designed instruction. In Part 1, we cover: ✅ Why SDI is different from accommodations or modifications ✅ How to ask...

It’s one of our most popular formats—rapid-fire Q&A straight from TikTok Live! In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, answers your biggest special education questions with her signature mix of clarity, humor, and straight talk. We cover everything from: ✅ Do you need a meeting to add accommodations to an IEP? ✅ Can dyslexia teachers serve without special ed cer...

In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham unpacks one of the most overlooked yet powerful safeguards in special education: Prior Written Notice (PWN) . Most parents don’t realize that a PWN is not optional—it’s federally required. And it’s the school’s responsibility to complete it whenever they propose or refuse changes to your child’s identification, evaluation, placeme...

It’s a Marvelous, Amazing Monday with Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, back with another Ask the Advocate episode! This week’s Q&A is packed with real parent and teacher questions covering IEP services, paraprofessionals, afterschool programs, behavioral supports, and yes—school shenanigans. Here’s what Karen answers: ✅ What evaluations parents can request when schools say...

This week’s Ask the Advocate is packed with real questions from parents, teachers, and advocates across the country—and straight answers you won’t hear anywhere else. From Denton ISD removing a child’s Dexcom, to confusion around aides, accommodations, and placement, Karen dives into the hard truths with humor, clarity, and strategy. You’ll hear powerful discussions on: ✅ Why “sitting in a class”...

he U.S. Supreme Court has spoken— A.J.T. vs. Osseo Area Schools is now a landmark decision shaping the future of special education rights. In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with Dr. Mitchell Yell , one of the nation’s leading voices on special education law, to break down what this case really means for parents, advocates, and schools. You’ll le...

What exactly is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), and when should you request one? In this episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham breaks down the facts about IEEs under IDEA and why they matter for parents, advocates, and educators. We’ll cover: The legal foundation of IEEs (IDEA §300.502) What an IEE is — and what it is NOT When to request an IEE (and when not to)...

This week on Special Education Boss® , Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles tough parent and teacher questions that expose what really happens inside IEP and 504 meetings. From falsified service logs to shortened school days, denials of services, and lack of staff training—Karen breaks down exactly what you can do, what the law says, and how to respond with confidence. In this episode, Karen covers: Wha...

In this Special Education Boss® episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham tackles your top special education questions—cutting through the confusion with clear, direct answers on IEPs, 504s, data collection, medical needs, and more. 🔥 Highlights include: College & Resource Classes: Does being in a resource setting impact college admissions—and how to make up missing credits. Behavior Goals That Work: W...

In this powerful IEP & 504 Q&A episode of Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham , we tackle YOUR real-world special education questions—straight from the comments—about eligibility, accommodations, modifications, evaluations, placement, behavior, related services, and more. Karen breaks down complicated situations into clear, actionable strategies so parents, advocates, and e...

Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss® , kicks off a new series on Parents’ Procedural Rights under IDEA. In this episode, she explains what procedural safeguards really are, why the Child Find mandate is the foundation of special education, and how to protect your rights at the IEP/504 table. You’ll learn: When schools must provide you a Notice of Procedural Safeguards and what makes...

It’s August, it’s hot, and it’s time to talk about starting the school year strong! In this special Ask the Advocate Q&A, Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — answers real questions from parents, educators, and advocates on everything from calling IEP meetings to checking teacher credentials. You’ll hear how to: Identify real reasons to call an IEP meeting (and avoid wasting...

What’s the real difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP? According to Karen Mayer Cunningham, the answer is simple: everything. In this powerful episode of Special Education Boss® , Karen unpacks the critical distinctions between a Section 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP)—and why settling for a 504 when your child needs an IEP can set them up for failure instead of success....

It's August 2025, and we’re back to school and back to the IEP and 504 tables! In this episode of Ask the Advocate , Karen Mayer Cunningham, the Special Education Boss®, takes questions live and delivers rapid-fire answers, real-talk strategies, and expert insight to get your year started right. Whether you're prepping for a first IEP meeting, navigating an out-of-place placement, wonder...