Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham
The Special Education Boss® Podcast is where advocacy meets action. Join Karen Mayer Cunningham each week as she empowers parents and professionals to understand their rights, navigate the system, and show up strong at the IEP table.
Special Education Boss® with Karen Mayer Cunningham
IEP Chaos, Charter School Myths & Advocate Q&A
In this episode of Special Education Boss®, Karen Mayer Cunningham is back with answers, attitude, and all the legal clarity you need to navigate the wild world of special education.
She tackles it all:
✅ The legality of removing non-verbal students without parent notification
✅ Why dual-certified teachers can’t wear two hats at an IEP meeting
✅ Whether charter schools are really doing right by students with disabilities (spoiler: they're not)
✅ What data actually drives Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) decisions
✅ How to use IDEA law to stand your ground — and when to file that state complaint
✅ The problem with “collaboration” minutes and mystery staff in the classroom
✅ What to say when someone throws “House Bill 4545” at you like it’s a solution
…and more.
This episode is equal parts fire and facts. If you’re in the trenches — whether you’re a parent, teacher, advocate, or school-based member — you don’t want to miss this one.
📚 Resources Mentioned:
→ SpecialEducationAcademy.com
→ Email us: advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
→ Want the book Karen referenced? Grab the Advocate’s Bookshelf
🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts
📌 Subscribe, rate, and share — because when we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody.
✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨
👩⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®
Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.
👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!
🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources
🔗 Learn more at The Academy
📬 Have a question? Email us at advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
📱 Follow Karen on:
- TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationboss
- YouTube: Special Education Academy
🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?
Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence.
📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl
(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)
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