In February, Bing began attending a new school in a town where his family relocated.  Bing had made a few new friends, but after a few weeks at school, Bing found his friends were treating him a little bit differently from their other friends.  

Bing has dyslexia. So, he is a little behind his classmates sometimes on finishing his tests and reading assignments.  

His teacher Mrs Bowman, had him in her class for resource reading.  His IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) puts him in this supported program for reading and writing.  

His mom came on Bing’s first day at his new school.  She and Bing met with teachers and other education leaders, in the IEP formal meeting, to help set a plan that Bing would feel comfortable with and that would help him succeed.  His mom was talking about the IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, that allows him to expect a free, appropriate, public education.  

The first IEP meeting with Bing's new school

His teacher, Mrs Bowman was in the IEP meeting.  She is very patient with Bing and helps him feel that he can do well in the other classes where he doesn’t have her to help him.  Mrs Bowman and his mother are always telling Bing that they, along with the whole IEP team, have taken lots of time and effort to make sure that the safeguards IDEA require are utilized to make sure he does well and has what he needs, even on those times when he is not with Ms. Bowman.  

This plan, to allow Bing more time with students that don’t have dyslexia or other disabilities, is to help him feel like his disability does not define him.  The IDEA calls Bing's flexible schedule, part of the plan to offer his education in the least restrictive environment.  Sometimes, though, this least restrictive environment can be challenging, especially with other students that don’t have disabilities.   

When Bing got home from school on the day that he began noticing he was being treated a little differently, he asked his parents if he could go back to his old school.