Frequently Asked Questions

An advocate is your educational navigator. It is overwhelming to walk into a meeting with multiple school professionals who are sharing copious amounts of information about your child’s educational needs. An advocate goes into this meeting as your ally, helping you understand the information being disseminated, and offers advice and support as the TEAM makes decisions about your child’s education.

I was a public special education teacher, special education teacher coach, and school administrator. I also have numerous family members with medical and educational disabilities that require specialized plans for educational success.  Therefore, I have sat at the 504 and IEP team meetings an abundance of times from both the professional and personal lens. I have attended an extensive number of professional training around providing appropriate accommodations, trauma informed practices, parental rights, etc.    North Carolina Licensed Special Educator  North Carolina Licensed School Administrator Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist North Carolina Licensed Curriculum and Instruction Specialist r to this item.

An advocate can review your child’s educational records, attend school meetings with you and provide guidance or  support. An advocate is part of your TEAM, the support system that helps ensure that the individual needs of your child are met in school. An advocate cannot give you legal advice, represent you in a legal capacity or prepare legal documents in a dispute. 

Although there is not a specific code of ethics for educational advocates, I am a member of COPAA and adhere to the voluntary code of ethics adopted by our organization. I use this as a guide for my professional work, conduct, and decision-making.

Your child has the right to an appropriate education, including, if necessary, educational services designed to meet their individual needs to the same extent as the needs of a student without learning differences are met. Whether through a 504 plan or Individual Education plan (IEP) children with areas of vulnerability, chronic illnesses, and other learning impairments qualify for personalized accommodations. 

I charge $70 per hour for the following:

• reviewing educational records, school documents and testing etc.

• research towards your child's needs or your parental rights; 

• writing/reviewing letters/emails

• attending meetings or conducting student observations (not including travel fees mentioned below)

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Phone calls billed at $25/hr

Fee Schedule

• A $200 non-refundable deposit will be taken at the time the welcome form is completed. Services will be billed against this deposit
• You will be billed at a rate of $70 an hour for all advocacy services.​​
• If you choose ONLY to have a records review, you will be billed a one-time fee of $200. 
• You will be billed a mileage fee of .60 cents for all travel to and from meetings/observations outside of Cabarrus and Stanly County. 
• Invoices will be sent via email every 2 weeks.