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October 28, 2025 13 mins

Is homework required by law?
In this episode, Karen Mayer Cunningham — the Special Education Boss® — breaks down one of the most common questions families bring to the IEP table: “Is homework legal, and what happens when it causes more harm than help?”

Karen explains what IDEA, ESSA, and state laws actually say about homework (spoiler: nothing requires it).

She also answers real questions from parents, educators, and paraprofessionals across the country, including:

✨ How to request testing to move from a 504 Plan to an IEP
✨ How 504s apply to afterschool programs run by outside companies
✨ Steps to take if testing was conducted without parental consent
✨ How to challenge incorrect placements or restrictive classroom settings

💡 Plus, Karen announces the upcoming Paraprofessional Training Webinar — November 5 at 7 PM CST!
Register now at SpecialEducationAcademy.com

📘 Order Karen’s new book, The Epic IEP
Now available for pre-order on Amazon!
➡️ https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637635125?tag=simonsayscom

Then visit TheEpicIEP.com
to claim $500 in pre-order bonuses — including tools, templates, and advocacy resources.

🎓 Join The Academy
Get 250+ hours of training that teach you how to navigate and negotiate successful student outcomes at the IEP/504 table.
👉 Join The Academy

📩 Need help or records review?
Email: advocate@specialeducationacademy.com
— Our trained advocates serve families nationwide.

Support the show

✨ 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:

🧠 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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