Education Advocates

I am thinking of hiring an education advocate. I have talked to Renay Zamloot and Gail Libertucci. They both seem fine, but it is difficult to know. Does anyone have any experience with either advocate or a different advocate? Could you recommend that advocate? I don't think I am at the point where I need an attorney. Do you wish you had gone with an attorney instead? I know this is a private topic, so please PM if that would be better. Thanks for your input!

Renay Zamloot is a terrific advocate, I have both worked with her and recommended many others to her. Martha Brecher is another great advocate: http://njeducationadvocate.com/

Here's a good website for locating advocates: http://copaa.site-ym.com/

Fwiw, I think it's always worthwhile to begin with an advocate. Any good/honest advocate will tell you if it's time to hire an attorney instead, and help you find one you can trust.

Thanks so much! The COPAA site is great, but I also appreciate hearing about people's personal experiences. It helps a lot.

Good luck!

Could an advocate help me get my daughter into Seth Boyden? She's currently in another school in the district. We requested a transfer but were denied because the school year has started. Seth Boyden does have room at their school. I don't understand why we can't switch if it's a better fit for my child.

GreenEyedChick said:
Could an advocate help me get my daughter into Seth Boyden? She's currently in another school in the district. We requested a transfer but were denied because the school year has started. Seth Boyden does have room at their school. I don't understand why we can't switch if it's a better fit for my child.

My sense is that education advocates are most appropriate/experienced (and most used) when there are special education issues involved...especially when parents and the district have not found common ground on the design of a 504 or IEP to meet a child's needs.

If this is simply an issue of fit for a child who is more or less thriving and doesn't have identified special needs, then you are probably better off taking some of the advice that you have been given elsewhere about talking to principals, etc. If there are unmet special needs that impact your daughter's ability to learn/function in school, then that is a different (and perhaps more private) conversation.

GreenEyedChick said:
I don't understand why we can't switch if it's a better fit for my child.

Because midyear transfers are disruptive to the class and to the teacher (and usually to the student). No administrator or teacher wants to play musical chairs based on whims like "I think it's a better fit". It's completely inappropriate without some evidence that there is a pressing need.