Education Advocacy Program

How we can help| FAQs | Rogers Park Project | Resources

The Education Advocacy Program (EAP) advocates to ensure that children with special needs, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and/or traumatic experiences receive an equitable education with the support and services they deserve. The EAP represents students who are attending or are entitled to attend schools in Evanston/Skokie or the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. 

Please call 847-492-1410, email contact@moran-center.org, or complete our intake application online* to get help. We look forward to working with you!

 


How can the Moran Center help?

What can we help with?

Situations including, but not limited to:

  • Issues with Obtaining or Improving an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan;
  • School Placement Disputes;
  • School Discipline: Suspensions, Expulsions, and Manifestation Determination Reviews
  • Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination
  • Residency Issues
  • Restorative Justice

How we can support you and your child?

  • Brief Legal Advice
  • Parent coaching for Individualized Education Program (IEP) or other school meetings
  • Representation of your child at IEP or other special education meetings
  • If appropriate, representation of your child in dispute resolution or Due Process hearings against the school district
  • Representation at School Discipline proceedings: Manifestation Determination Reviews, Suspension Appeals, or Expulsion Hearings

FAQs

Who is eligible for help from the Education Advocacy Program? The EAP represents low-income students who live in and/or attend school in Evanston/Skokie or the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

How much does the EAP charge for its services? The Moran Center’s legal services are free to qualified clients. You may be responsible for costs and fees associated with the representation, including expert fees, evaluation fees, and filing fees. We will discuss any potential fees with you before incurring these costs.

How can I contact the EAP? What is the intake process? Call us at 847-492-1410 and leave a message for the our team. We will return your call and conduct an intake. Once we have all of your information, we can then determine if we are able to accept your case. You may also apply for our services by completing an online application*.

Solo hablo español. ¿Pudiera llamar al Programa de Educación del Moran Center?

I only speak Spanish. Can I still call the Moran Center’s EAP?

Sí. El Programa de Educación del Moran Center tiene un abogado que habla español. Cuando llame o cuando deje un mensaje pregunte que el abogado que habla español le devuelva la llamada.

Yes. The Moran Center’s EAP has a Spanish speaking attorney. Please request to have our Spanish speaking attorney return your call.

Am I only eligible to receive your services if I am low-income? Yes, to qualify for full representation you must meet the Moran Center’s income restrictions. However, if you have an educational issue with your child and you are above our income restrictions, please feel free to call us because we might be able to give you brief legal advice, information, and refer you to other educational advocates in the community.

What if I do not understand my child’s IEP? Call us and we can walk you through the IEP and brainstorm with you and your child regarding whether they are receiving the appropriate services and/or whether they have been evaluated properly.

My child did not receive the services or instruction that was part of their IEP during remote learning, what should I do? Please reach out to the Moran Center’s Education Advocacy Team. Your child may qualify for compensatory education services. Call us and we can discuss available options.

Do you take cases outside of Evanston? Yes. Starting in October 2021, the EAP is piloting a project that will work with students who reside in and/or attend school in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

I am student and I want to call on my own. Can I? Absolutely. Call us and we can talk about your educational rights. Depending on your age we might also need to reach out to your caregiver but please, feel free to call us to talk about any issue related with school.

My child’s school is threatening to suspend my child. What should I do? Please reach out to the Moran Center’s Education Advocacy team. There are laws to protect you and your child in this situation.

My child is struggling with reading/math/science, can I call you? Yes, we can talk about opportunities for evaluations and interventions.

My teacher keeps calling me to tell me that my child is having trouble with behavior/paying attention/sitting still/taking turns/following directions. Can I call you? Yes, please reach out to the Moran Center’s Education Advocacy Team. We can discuss strategies for evaluations and interventions.


Rogers Park Project

Supported through an Equal Justice Works fellowship sponsored by Nike, Inc., the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy launched a pilot expansion of our Education Advocacy Program to the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago to further disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.

The EAP’s Rogers Park Project serves as a pilot program providing free educational advocacy and restorative justice to students living in and/or attending school in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

The EAP’s Rogers Park Project is led by Moran Center attorney Andy Froelich. Andy has worked as an education advocate at the Moran Center since 2020, graduating from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Throughout law school, Andy advocated for children in education, child protection, and domestic relations matters through his work with Loyola’s ChildLaw Clinic and Stand Up For Each Other Chicago (SUFEO).

The EAP’s Rogers Park Project is proud to partner with Circles and Ciphers—a hip-hop infused restorative justice organization led by and for young people impacted by violence. Learn more at circlesandciphers.org.

If your child is experiencing difficulty in school, is having issues with their special education services, or is facing school exclusion, call the EAP’s Rogers Park Project for assistance at (847) 492-1410.

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Resources

Check out our “Know Your Rights” training videos!