Justin G.
Just my thoughts!
How to Get Your Child Evaluated for Special Education (and IEP or a 504)
Suspect your child needs support at school but don't know where to start? This New York guide walks parents through requesting a special education evaluation, the 60-day deadlines districts must meet, the two-question eligibility test, and how to tell whether your child needs an IEP or a 504 plan.
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The Revote: Districts That Clawed to Yes, and the Ones Facing Contingency Cuts
New York's June 16 budget revotes split the state in two. Rome, Locust Valley, Grand Island, Ogdensburg, West Canada Valley, and South Country clawed their way to yes, most by cutting. Randolph, Lyndonville, and West Valley failed again and now face contingency budgets with zero levy growth and forced cuts to programs and staff. Here is what happened, and what it means for families.
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Scholarship Season Still Open: Real Money With Summer Deadlines
Some of the year's most generous scholarships quietly close over the summer, when far fewer students apply. Here is a verified, current rundown of awards with deadlines between now and the end of September 2026, from $10,000 STEM and healthcare scholarships to $20,000 and $25,000 no-essay options, with application links for each.
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The 0.4 Percent Rule: What to Tell Your Kid When the Odds Say Quit
A championship speech turned a 0.4 percent comeback into a worldview. Here is how parents can borrow that same reframe to raise kids who keep working when the odds, and the scoreboard, say it is time to quit.
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Special Education and Civil Rights Are Leaving the Education Department
The federal government is moving special education and civil rights oversight out of the Education Department. The laws protecting students with disabilities have not changed, but who enforces them has. Here is what it means for families, and why some states have far more at stake.
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Your Kid's Report Card Just Came Home. Now What?
A "3" is not a "C." Here is how to actually read a standards-based report card, decode what Meeting and Approaching mean, tell it apart from the state test, and turn the marks into a real summer plan before the teacher leaves for break.
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The Parade and the Exam Land on the Same Morning - How Will You Decide?
The championship parade and a state exam fall on the very same morning, putting parents in an impossible spot. Here is a clear-headed framework for deciding, the retake facts that change the stakes, and the one question that settles most of it.
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Your Child Has an IEP, Now What? A Parent's Step-by-Step Survival Guide
If your child just received an IEP and you're not sure what happens next, this step-by-step guide walks New York parents through their rights, the annual review process, how to respond when services aren't delivered, and free resources available statewide.
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Praise in Public: A Parenting Lesson From a Championship Night
A championship night and one father's honest answer offer a quiet but powerful lesson for every parent: protecting our children sometimes means choosing the right words at the right moment, and letting a child's biggest win be fully theirs.
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When Going Viral Becomes a Risk: A Parent's Guide to Keeping Teens Safe
A 17-year-old's viral prom photos turned into a memorial overnight. Here is how New York parents can help teens protect their digital footprint, manage privacy, and build the real-world situational awareness that keeps them safe online and off.
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Celebration Is Not a License: What the Postgame Chaos Says About How We Raise Kids
A historic comeback ended with shattered windshields, climbed signs, and objects hurled at players. The real story is not the chaos. It is what it reveals about emotional regulation, early education, and how we raise kids to celebrate without causing harm.
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A Parent's Guide: How to Talk to Your Teen About Social Media
New York's SAFE for Kids Act is changing how teens experience social media, but the most powerful protection still happens at home. Here is a practical, judgment-first guide to talking with your teen about privacy, safety, screen time, and self-worth.
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