If you're a parent in the San Diego area and you're tired of feeling pushed aside by your child's school, you're not alone. Whether you're fighting to get an IEP approved, dealing with a school that won't follow your 504 plan, or just exhausted by constant delays, you've likely hit a wall. Schools sometimes use complicated processes and vague language to avoid giving your child the services they truly need. It's frustrating. And it's not okay for caring parents to do everything right and still be ignored.
The Lento Law Firm's Educational Law Team helps parents across San Diego stand up for their children's rights under special education law. We work directly with families to resolve IEP and 504 issues, and we know how to deal with schools that won't move until a lawyer gets involved.
Call the Educational Law Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
School Districts We Work Within the San Diego Area
Some of the best-funded schools in the San Diego area still leave families hanging when it comes to special education. We've worked with families in:
- Carlsbad Unified School District
- Poway Unified School District
- La Jolla schools within the San Diego Unified School District
- Del Mar Union School District
- Encinitas Union School District
- Rancho Santa Fe School District
- San Marcos Unified School District
These districts are known for high performance—but that doesn't mean they always follow the law. Parents in these communities often face slow responses, "missing paperwork," or unclear answers when trying to get their child's needs met. Many times, schools act politely but still delay services or avoid making firm commitments.
If you've been told to "wait and see," or if your school keeps scheduling meetings without giving you clear answers, you're not imagining it. You're being stalled. This is exactly why so many families turn to the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team for help.
What Parents Should Know About IEPs, 504s, and Eligibility
If your child has a disability or learning difference, they may qualify for extra support at school, but there's a difference between an IEP and a 504 plan.
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a legally binding document that spells out the services, accommodations, and goals for a child with a qualifying disability. It's protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
A 504 plan comes from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It provides accommodations but doesn't require the same level of services or detailed goals as an IEP.
Common issues parents face include:
- Schools delay or deny evaluations for months
- Eligibility is denied with vague reasoning
- IEP goals are unclear or too broad
- Supports disappear during school transitions (like moving to middle or high school)
Parents end up in endless meetings with no progress, left with no answers. When the process becomes confusing or feels like it's going in circles, that's when legal help matters most.
When Districts Fail to Follow the Law
Sometimes, the plan exists, but no one follows it.
There are schools that ignore the IEP entirely. Teachers aren't told what services the child is supposed to get. Aides are never assigned. Speech therapy hours vanish from the schedule.
Other times, families face outright pushback. A parent speaks up, and suddenly, their child is written up for behavior issues. Or a school blames the family for "asking too much."
Common legal violations include:
- Missed services or unqualified staff.
- Failure to implement IEP accommodations.
- Breaking the rules—like skipping notices or cutting meetings short.
- Retaliation or sudden disciplinary action after a parent pushes back.
Schools are required to follow timelines when evaluating students and creating IEPs. If they miss deadlines—or stall with unnecessary meetings—it's not just frustrating, it may be a violation of the law. You don't have to sit and wait while time slips away.
When this happens, families have legal tools. They can file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), request mediation, or request a formal hearing to hold the school accountable.
We don't escalate unless we have to. But when it's time, we don't hold back.
Why Parents Work With the Lento Law Firm
The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm helps guide families through the process—answering questions, reviewing documents, and standing with you in meetings. When districts delay, resist, or push back, we help families respond strategically and assert their legal rights with confidence.
Here's how the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team helps families like yours:
- Attends IEP or 504 meetings to ensure your voice is heard and your child's rights are protected.
- Reviews and rewrites education plans that are too vague, too weak, or not being followed.
- Pushes back against unnecessary delays to ensure services happen on time.
- Handles communication with districts when schools stop responding or start retaliating.
- Prepares for mediation or hearings if things can't be resolved quietly.
Our attorneys are familiar with how school districts in Carlsbad, Poway, and San Marcos operate. We've helped families resolve long-running delays, blocked evaluations, and unsupported transitions—all without unnecessary escalation. If we can solve it quickly, we do. If the district won't budge, we're ready to escalate strategically.
The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team is a leading advocate for families in the San Diego area, especially in suburban districts that are well-resourced but resistant to parent advocacy. We know how these systems work, and we know how to move them when they stall.
Whether you're just starting or already in conflict, we'll meet you where you are. If it can be resolved with one letter, we'll write it. If it takes a hearing, we'll prepare for it.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us here. Your child has a right to support. Let's make sure they get it.
