17. April 2026

Why the End of the School Year Can Feel So Stressful

March and April are an unusual time in the school year.

There is still learning happening, but schools are also beginning to transition toward the next academic year. Annual IEP meetings are happening, state testing may be underway, and many school districts are already thinking about scheduling and staffing for the fall.

For parents of children with disabilities, that can create pressure to address every school concern all at once.

But effective education advocacy is about prioritizing, not reacting to every issue that appears.

When you focus on the right priorities, you can:

• protect your child’s current services, supports, and accommodations
• gather the data needed for next year’s planning
• avoid last-minute surprises
• reduce stress and burnout

So how do you know what actually deserves your attention right now?

The goal right now is not to fix every challenge your child experienced this school year. The real goal is much simpler and far more effective:

Finish the school year with no major unresolved issues and a clear plan for next year.

Want a step-by-step plan for navigating the school year as a parent advocate?

The School Year Education Advocacy Roadmap is free guide that shows parents exactly what advocacy actions to take each month, so nothing falls through the cracks.

→ Download the School Year Education Advocacy Roadmap

That requires focusing your energy on the issues that actually matter most.

These issues affect whether your child is receiving the support they are entitled to and whether next year’s IEP or 504 plan will be built on accurate information.

1. Compliance Problems

One of the most important things to review right now is whether your child’s current IEP or 504 plan is actually being followed.

This includes checking whether:

• Specialized instruction is being delivered as written
• accommodations are consistently followed
• related services (speech, OT, tutoring, counseling, etc.) are occurring as written
• evaluations that were promised have been completed and appropriate follow-up actions taken

If services are not being delivered or accommodations are being ignored, those are compliance issues that should be addressed now.

Unresolved violations often carry over into the next school year if they are not documented and addressed. The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) also limits how much time parents have to escalate unresolved issues.

What you can do

Start by reviewing your child’s IEP or 504 plan and asking:

• Are the listed services being delivered consistently?
• Have teachers properly implemented the accommodations listed in the plan?
• Has the school provided the supports that were agreed upon?
• Is my child due for any evaluations? If so, have they been requested? Are they complete?

If something is missing, communicate with the appropriate school staff in writing and ask for clarification or a plan to resolve the issue.

Not sure how to address compliance issues with the school?

Inside the Quick Wins Masterclass, I walk parents through my simple 3-Step Education Advocacy Formula so you know exactly how and when to raise concerns, request documentation, and protect your child’s education rights.

→ Learn the 3-Step Advocacy Formula

2. Missing or Vague Progress Data

Before the school year ends, you should have clear information about your child’s progress on every IEP goal.

Progress reports should answer key questions such as:

• Is your child making meaningful progress?
• Are the current goals working?
• Are services helping your child improve?

If progress data is vague or missing, it becomes difficult to make informed decisions at your next IEP meeting. For children with 504 plans, the school staff should monitor whether the plan is working for the child. You, as the parent, can also make your own written observations and collect your own data that details whether your child's 504 plan is effective.

What you can do

Review the progress reports you’ve received this year and look for:

• specific data or measurements
• clear explanations of progress toward goals
• evidence that services are supporting improvement

If the information is unclear, you can request additional data from the school. Having this information now will help you prepare for future decisions about goals and services.

3. Potential Extended School Year (ESY) Needs

Some children experience significant skill regression during school breaks or need extended time to regain lost skills when school resumes.

In these cases, Extended School Year (ESY) services may be appropriate.

The important thing to understand is that ESY decisions are usually based on data about regression and recoupment.

Waiting until the end of the year to raise the question can make the discussion more difficult.

What you can do

Consider whether your child:

• loses important skills during long breaks
• struggles to regain skills after time away from school
• requires consistent instruction to maintain progress

If you believe ESY may be appropriate, reviewing your child’s data and raising the question early allows the school team time to consider the evidence. If you haven't already had this discussion with your child's school, request a meeting to discuss your child receiving ESY services.

If you're unsure whether your child qualifies for Extended School Year services, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

You can schedule an Advocacy Clarity Call where we review your child’s specific situation, identify the data you need to support your request and clarify the next steps you should take to secure ESY for your child.

→ Schedule an Advocacy Clarity Call

4. Concerns That Will Affect Next Year’s Plan

Some issues are important because they directly influence what next year’s educational plan should look like.

Examples include:

• goals that are not working
• services that are insufficient
• accommodations that are unrealistic or ineffective
• supports that are missing entirely
• changes in placement
• milestone transitions, like elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to adulthood

These concerns should be documented before the next IEP meeting and before the end of the current school year so the team has time to meet to review the information and consider adjustments.

Strategic Education Advocacy Is About Focus

Advocacy can feel overwhelming when everything seems urgent.

But strategic education advocacy is not about reacting to every challenge or issue. It’s about focusing on the issues that truly affect your child’s access to education and appropriate support. When you focus on those priorities, you can finish the school year with clarity and without burning yourself out.

Want a Clear Education Advocacy Plan for the School Year?

Many parents feel overwhelmed because they’re reacting to problems instead of working from a clear advocacy strategy.

That’s exactly why I created the School Year Education Advocacy Roadmap.

This free guide shows parents:

• what advocacy steps matter most each quarter of the school year
• when to gather documentation and data
• how to prepare for IEP and 504 meetings
• what to prioritize so small issues don’t become major problems

Download it here:

→ Get your Free Education Advocacy Roadmap