The Foreign Service Journal, December 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2022 93 R eturning to the U.S. after being overseas with a child who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan can be a challenge. Finding the right services and schools to meet the needs of your child will take time to research and understand. As every child is different, many factors will go into this decision process. It is important to research the school districts and pro- grams you are considering and evaluate whether the education they have received overseas will align with the different types of public school systems in the U.S. Starting early, asking questions, and connecting with the right resources will be crucial to making the transition easier. As a Foreign Service parent, youmay face the reality that the IEP or 504 Plan from your children’s international school is no longer valid once they come home, nor is any educational assess- ment completed by an outside provider. If a child receives an IEP/504 from an international school overseas, including a State Department–assisted school, it will not be accepted by a U.S. public school. (For an overview of the differences between an IEP and a 504, see the article at Understood: https://u.org/3MxanZc. ) The Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) wants to help you understand how to navigate and advocate for the best outcome for your child in these situations. Where do we go for resources? You may find that each school district in the D.C./Maryland/ Virginia (DMV) area has a different process to enroll students with special needs and assign services for the child. Most DMV schools have a parent resource center (PRC) or central registra- Charlotte Larsen has been a Foreign Service family member at six overseas posts over the last 26 years. She joined the Global Community Liaison Office as education and youth program officer in 2020. She served previously as a global employment and a community liaison office coordinator in Asia and Europe. Prior to joining the State Department, she taught in international and Department of Defense schools. Rebecca McPherson has been a Foreign Service family member for eight years, serving both overseas and domestically. She joined the Global Community Liaison Office in January 2020, first as the crisis management and support services specialist and, in September 2021, as the education and youth program specialist. She was a biometrics facilitator and a community liaison office co- ordinator in Asia and Africa. Prior to joining the State Department, she was in the ministry both in South Africa and New York, and a real estate agent and property manager in Maryland. EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT Are you returning to the U.S. with a child who has an IEP or 504 Plan? GCLO can help you navigate—and advocate—for the best outcome. BY CHARLOTTE LARSEN AND REBECCA MCPHERSON WhatYou Need toKnow Returning to U.S. Public Schools with Special Education Needs ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/VISUALGENERATION