Welcome to Batchis Nestle & Reimann LLC
The Special Education Law Group
Our Services
Special Education Law
Batchis Nestle & Reimann, LLC is a law firm that specializes in helping children secure their educational rights and assisting families in navigating the challenges that arise as their disabled child reaches adulthood.
We provide advocacy and legal representation for children and their parents, and are prepared to handle due process hearings, discipline hearings, truancy hearings, manifestation hearings and appeals to federal court.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigating under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 or the Rehabilitation Act, and other federal and state statutes and regulations related to the educational rights of children.
Truancy and Discipline
We know how stressful and scary it is to get truancy and discipline letters from school.
We are here to help your voice be heard. We will provide advice and strategies to get you through this difficult time while advocating for your child.
Compensatory Education
If your child's school has failed to provide Free and Appropriate Public Education ("FAPE"), you may have a claim for compensatory education. Compensatory education is a fund that can be used for education and related services to meet your child's needs.
Due Process Litigation & Mediation
We offer highly experienced litigators who know special education. We will fight for your child's education rights at a hearing. We can also guide you through the mediation process, and have significant experience in appellate litigation and are prepared to take your child's case to federal court if necessary.
Tuition Reimbursement
Some children have educational needs that cannot be met by their school district or charter school. We can help you evaluate whether your child needs an out-of-district placement and whether you may have a claim for reimbursement for tuition paid to that placement.
Early Intervention Services
We represent children and students of all ages. Under the IDEA and Pennsylvania law, children with special needs may be eligible for early intervention services starting at birth, as part of the 0-3 program.
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In most Pennsylvania counties, it is the Intermediate Unit that is obligated to identify children who are eligible and provide those children with services. Children may continue to be eligible in the 3-5 program. We help our clients understand and advocate for their child's right to early intervention.
We also counsel our clients through the transition just before their toddler turns 3 from the 0-3 program to the 3-5 early intervention program. We will then help our clients when their child is ready to transition to school-age programming, usually at age 5 or 6.
School-Age SPED Services
We represent children and students of all ages, from elementary school, middle school, high school - through graduation or age 22. It is the responsibility of a student's home school district or charter school to identify children who are eligible for special education, through a process called "Child Find." Each eligible child has an individual set of educational needs. If your child is eligible for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) under the IDEA, the school district or charter school is required to program for your child's individual needs.
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If you child has a disability or a medical problem and is not eligible for an IEP, he or she may be eligible for accommodations in a 504 plan. Also in Pennsylvania, a gifted child is entitled to enrichment activities in a GIEP
Meet Our Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
We are lawyers and advocates who tirelessly advocate for our clients’ educational rights at all stages of the IEP process from IEP review to placement.
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What Our Clients Say
N. N.
"Excellent mediation attorneys who actually LISTEN to the concerns of their clients!"
T. C.
"Very dedicated in fighting for special needs children. I couldn't have asked for a better attorney"
W.W.
"My son kept getting suspended from school. Before we found you, I had no idea that the school district was obligated to test my son for special education and develop a behavior plan. He is doing well now with 1:1 behavior support - so well that we will be reducing his support in the near future. Thank you."
D. S.
"I will never forget the professionalism and quality of care my son and I received from Jennifer Nestle! What a blessing that is for any family with a child with Special Needs!"
S.K.
"Courtney Donovan single-handedly helped bring under control the chaos we were dealing with in our school district and with our service providers. Integrity, commitment, passion, energy, and intelligence are all characteristics that can be used to describe Courtney."
D.C.
“You’ve been great to work with. I had trepidations about getting a lawyer involved, I’m no doubt very glad that we decided to engage you. Your guidance has always been even and well thought out, and you’ve been a great help to us through a trying time. The outcome of this case is as good as I could have hoped. Thank you for all of the hard work.”
S.M.
"Thank you so much. I think that you & Courtney are special people to do what you do. You give our children a VOICE and for that I will be eternally grateful!"
H.R.
"Our son was on-grade level in reading and math, but he had no friends and was anxious about going to school. We are so glad we found you. You helped us advocate for an IEP and our son is now excited to go to school."
J.T.
"When we came to you, we just did not know what to do. We were so confused and intimidated by the staff at my daughter's school. You helped us understand our child's rights and to be better advocates for her. We can't thank you enough."
A.N.
"By the time I reached Leah and Courtney, my 9 year old son had been struggling for years and was beginning to fail classes. He had lost all confidence in himself. He needed a different type of school setting and I was unable to push by myself to get him what he needed. Courtney attended meetings with me and helped me learn how to navigate the system to protect my son while Leah began working directly with his school district to find a solution. I am so grateful every day and would highly recommend Leah and Courtney to anyone who needs a strong advocate/legal team to help their child gain access to an education where he can be successful."
“Start where you are
Use what you have
Do what you can.”
Arthur Ashe
FAQS
What is an IEP?
IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. Children who are eligible for an IEP are entitled to education that is adapted to meet their individual needs and that is reasonably calculated to produce meaningful progress in all areas of need.
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Who are the members of an IEP team?
The members of a child’s IEP team include parents, at least one of the child’s regular education teachers, a school district representative, someone, such as the school psychologist, who can interpret evaluation results and their implications for instruction of the child, special education teacher(s), others who know your child, transition services representative, and the child if appropriate.
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My child’s teacher told me that I am not a member of my child’s IEP team. Is this correct?
No. Parents are members of their child’s IEP team and must be provided with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of their child’s IEP.
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What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology includes any special equipment that students need to help them participate in school. Your child's school district or charter school must assess your child's assistive technology needs. The district or charter school must also ensure that your child’s teachers and other support staff understand how to use and teach with the device.
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What are related services?
Related services are services needed to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education. Related services must be provided if the IEP team determines that a student needs the service in order to benefit from his or her education.
What are some examples of related services?
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Transportation
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Audiological services
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Psychological services
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Physical therapy
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Occupational therapy
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Counseling services
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School health services
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Social work services
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Mental health services
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Parent counseling or training
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Speech and language pathology/therapy
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Adapted physical education
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Behavior intervention program
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Assistive technology devices and services
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Can a parent invite other people to attend the IEP meeting?
Yes, Parents are allowed to bring whomever they think will be helpful to an IEP meeting. Education consultants, advocates, special education attorneys, as well as tutors or therapists who know your child can be very helpful.
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​We just moved into a new school district, and the new district is refusing to implement my child's IEP while it completes its own re-evaluation report. Is this permissible?
No. If a student with a disability had an IEP in effect at a charter school or in another Pennsylvania school district, the new district, or new charter school must, in consultation with the parents, implement the student’s prior IEP, or recommend a new IEP, pending its re-evaluation of the student.
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My child has disabilities and is also gifted. What issues must be addressed in her IEP in relation to gifted services?
Children who are eligible for both gifted education and special education are very special kids who are often called “twice exceptional.” The School District must ensure that such children’s needs with regards to giftedness and enrichment are met at the same time that their special education needs are met. IEPs for gifted children must include gifted services and enrichment.
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Is my child’s cyber charter school required to evaluate him and provide special education support?
Yes. In Pennsylvania, all charter schools, both cyber charters and brick and mortar charter schools, are required to identify and support children who are eligible for special education.
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What does “child find” mean?
Child find is what the IDEA calls the obligation of the school district or charter school to identify and evaluate children who are thought to be eligible for special education. Pennsylvania Hearing Officers take this legal obligation very seriously. School districts and charter schools are charged with the expertise to know when a child may need special education and to identify that child's needs and provide appropriate support.
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What does LEA stand for?
LEA stands for Local Education Agency. This is the school district or charter school that your child attends. The LEA is the entity that has the legal obligation to provide your child with a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
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How often are IEP meetings held?
IEP meetings must be held once per school year. However, a parent, or anyone else on the IEP team, may call an IEP meeting at any time.
My child is 14 years old. Should he/she attend the IEP meeting?
Yes. It is also important for your daughter to have input into decisions that will affect her. In Pennsylvania, transition services must be included in the IEP that is in effect when she turns 14. The school must invite you and your daughter to transition IEP meetings.
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