The ABC’s of Special Education
Date: Dec 1, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $180.00
Non-Member Price: $225.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: Administrative, Civil, School, Solo & Small Firm
Earn up to 4 credits! (More Information)
Featured Speaker
Moderator
- Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
- Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler, Cranbury
Presenters
- Hannah Argul, Esq.
- Sussan, Greenwald & Wesler, Cranbury
- Athina L. Cornell, Esq.
- Methfessel & Werbel, Edison
- Lori Gaines, Esq.
- Barger & Gaines, Fair Haven
- Vittorio S. LaPira, Esq.
- Fogarty, Hara, LaPira & Cherry LLC, Fair Lawn
Handling basic special education law matters is a vital skill for attorneys representing students and families in New Jersey. Register today for this essential program to tap into the latest strategies you need to know from some of the state's leading experts, so you can confidently navigate even the most complex matters that come your way. As an attendee, you will learn the governing law and the referral process, and how to apply them to get the best results in the matters you handle. In a single morning, our panel of experts will also share the most important recent trends regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the least restrictive environment standard.
Beyond the statutory framework, the panel will detail how to handle a special education case from start to finish. You will learn how to approach testing requirements, evaluations and eligibility determinations so you can take on these cases with confidence. You will come away with the strategies you need to review Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) effectively and expand your special education practice.
Learn the latest strategies for getting the best results in special education law and student representation, including:
- The governing law and your role in the special education referral process.
- How the IDEA applies to your clients.
- The standards for determining the least restrictive environment for a student.
- What you need to know about testing requirements, evaluations and student eligibility.
- Strategies for negotiating and structuring IEPs.
Register today and join us.
9 a.m. | Welcome - Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
9:05 a.m. | The law governing special education - Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
· IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) - Athina L. Cornell, Esq. and Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
· The players and the language – i.e., child study team, IEP (Individualized Education Program) team
· 504 plans - Panel discussion
9:45 a.m. | The referral process and Evaluations
· Who has the right to make a referral? Child find, evaluations and eligibility – goals, objectives and who should be there - Lori Gaines, Esq.
· School district evaluations - Athina L. Cornell, Esq.
· Independent evaluations - Vittorio S. LaPira, Esq.
· Private evaluations - Hannah Argul, Esq.
10:10 a.m. | Panel discussion
· What makes a comprehensive evaluation?
· Private vs. Independent evaluations
10:30 a.m. | Break
10:40 a.m. | Eligibility and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
· Eligibility - Hannah Argul, Esq.
o Classification
o The three-prong test
· Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - Lori Gaines, Esq.; Athina L. Cornell, Esq. and Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
11:05 a.m. | Artificial intelligence’s impact on special education practitioners - Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq. and Panel discussion
11:35 a.m. | Student Discipline under the IDEA
· Suspensions, manifestation determinations, psychiatric clearances - Hannah Argul, Esq. and Vittorio S. LaPira, Esq.
11:45 a.m. | Special Education disputes
· Due process hearings, mediations, Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), what does settlement look like, fee arrangements - Athina L. Cornell, Esq.; Lori Gaines, Esq. Andrew I. Meltzer, Esq.
12:15 p.m. | Learning disputes and settlements through hypotheticals - Panel Discussion
12:35 p.m. | Adjourn
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