It is the fact that you can't authorize funding which
makes it an illegal IEP meeting. It is a procedural
problem that if known by someone and reported could cause
you and your school to have a complaint levied. Doesn't
matter a hill of beans if a gen ed teacher or a counselor
is LEA if given permission to authorize funding. I
understood your post and your second post.

Because a parent or student (depending on age) is an equal
part of the IEP team, you cannot know what might be
requested or recommended that may require additional
funding. Therefore, it is not a procedurally valid IEP
meeting. While it may be common practice at your school
and many others, it is still a violation.

On 6/24/09, Gail wrote:
> Whoa Jo
> TMyv you need to re=read my post. There is nothing
> "illegal" about a counselor being an LEA at
> an IEP meeting. In my building I am only asked to do it
> if our pricipal is out of the building and if the IEP
> is not one that will require above and beyond what we
> can do for the child without additional funding. If
> ther is ever a question of programming that will
> require extra funding our Supervisor of Sp. Ed. is
> invited to attend the meeting. The law specifies that
> an LEA must attend the meeting, but does not specify
> WHO must serve as the LEA. There is nothing ILLEGAL
> about a counselor serving as LEA in a lot of
> circumtances.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6/24/09, Jo wrote:
>> It is obvious from you post that you know you are
>> holding illegal IEP meetings since you cannot
>> authorize funding. Do you tell the parents up front
>> about the fact they are in a meeting which is out of
>> compliance and that they can report the school if
>> they so choose?
>>
>> The fact that you know this is illegal and still
>> doing it anyway is putting yourself in a precarious
>> situation. I suggest you rectify it quickly because
>> if the ball drops, it will be on you and everyone
>> will play the nose game and point the finger at you.
>>
>> On 6/23/09, Gail wrote:
>>> The LEA is the Local Education Agency, which
>>> basically is the school. We as counselors should
>>> not really be the LEA since we have no power to
>>> authorize funding for any special needs. That being
>>> said, I am often the LEA at IEP meetings when my
>>> principal is not available. At one of our other
>>> elementary schools the counselors is ALWAYS the LEA
>>> at all IEP nmeetings. It is important to learn
>>> about these things. After I finished my counseling
>>> program, I went back and took several special ed.
>>> courses. This site will explain some of the things
>>> you asked:
>>> http://specialneedseducation.suite101.com/article.c
>>> fm/the_special_educa tion_process

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