I agree that “the I in IDEA and IEP stands for individual.” This reminds me of the late Art Shapiro’s lament: “Unfortunately, the I in IEP often stands for Identical.”

I believe that parents of struggling readers must do whatever they can ethically do to ensure that their “child’s teachers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.” The reason is simple: teachers with little enthusiasm and knowledge will hurt children who struggle with reading. It’s a burden for parents (and sometimes an unrealistic one), but in a world that’s often unfair, a necessary one. Often, it’s the child of the knowledgeable, persistent parent who gets the services and teachers she needs; the child of the uninformed, uninvolved parent often languishes.

If a teacher lacked critical knowledge and skill and was uninterested in what he was doing, I would work to get the child transferred. At the least, I would work to see to it that the administration was involved in improving the situation.

Again, thanks for your comments. — HM

I think expecting parents to ensure that “Your child’s teachers are enthusiastic and knowledgeable…” is placing undue and extraordinary burden on the parents. When arriving to a child’s classroom at the beginning of a school year, what would a parent do if in fact the teacher appeared to be unenthusiastic or lacking in some critical knowledge?