You can't just sit back and expect everything to work out perfectly. For your child to get the help he or she needs, you are going to have to be very determined and proactive, because some schools might drag their heels in implementing plans that have been made.

Put the following list up in a prominent spot and check it frequently in order to make sure your child is receiving the help he or she needs for a specific learning problem:

1. Know precisely what kind of help your child should be receiving.

2. Check frequently that this help is actually being given.

3. Monitor your child's progress closely.

4. If you don't see any progress, have the committee that made the plan meet again. You don't have to wait a year for changes to be made to a plan. They can be adapted at any time as long as the planning team is in agreement.

5. Remember, if you disagree with a decision made by the committee, you can ask for arbitration.

6. Keep abreast of special-education laws, especially the provisions that will benefit your child.