As the school year begins to settle into a rhythm, many parents start hearing more about progress. Assignments come home, online gradebooks begin to fill, teachers share observations, and before long, progress reports and report cards will arrive. For parents of children with disabilities, all of that information can be helpful, but it can also raise an important question: How do I know whether my child is really making meaningful progress?

By September, the school year is beginning to feel a little more familiar. Children are settling into routines, teachers are getting to know their students, and parents are beginning to have a better sense of what the year may look like. This is also often the time when questions begin to surface.

A few weeks into the school year, the newness begins to wear off. The backpacks have found their usual place, morning routines are becoming more familiar, and children are beginning to understand what their days will look like. For many families, this is also the point when parents begin to get a clearer picture of how the year is really going.