A New Way to Advocate:

IFSP to IEP Process

A Boutique, In-Person 4-Part Learning Series in Monrovia for Preschool Transition Families

SDP Funding | Parent Education Service Code 102

Moving your child from Early Start services into a school district preschool is a massive milestone. This transition meets parents who are already carrying the unique stress of raising a neurodivergent child, taking them from the safety of the home into a public school system that can often feel surrounding by intense legal battles.

Our mission is simple: to give you the rights, clarity, and tools to make peaceful, productive decisions for your child from day one.

"Is there a way to advocate for my child’s preschool IEP assessment without the toxic stress of fighting with the school district?"

Yes. We offer an alternative path to create the most informed parents entering the system. If you have ever joined a lactation support group, you will find a familiar vibe here: a real, supportive, expert-led space where parents share the real-world weight of the journey together. Everyone is new, wants to do the right thing, and is freaked out. Were all in this together.

• The No-Upsell Promise: We sell zero follow-up services and do no private advocacy. Our entire goal is to help you NOT need an advocate. This knowledge-first approach is well worth a shot to get the IEP your child needs without losing your mind to stress.

• The Reality on Escalation: Peaceful doesn't mean we never escalate. We will explicitly cover "escape hatches" and the specific scenarios where calling for outside legal or advocacy help is necessary.

Is This Program Right for You?

Because this cohort is strictly limited to an intimate group of 8 parents max, we are highly intentional about the dynamic in the room.

Who This Is For:

• Preschool Transition Families: Parents whose children are currently approaching their 3rd birthday and transitioning out of Early Start or Regional Center services.

• The Ready-to-Learn Parent: Parents who are trying to navigate this transition and want to feel less nervous, more prepared, and more informed about what is going on.

• Knowledge-First Advocates: Parents who want to advocate for their child’s needs through clinical knowledge, quiet authority, and solid data.

Who This Is NOT For:

• System Veterans: This class is engineered specifically for the preschool transition. If you already have years of experience navigating school district IEPs for older kids, this introductory framework will be too elementary for you.

• Aggressive Advocates: If you firmly believe that your child requires aggressive, traditional advocacy, this class is not a match for you.

• Passive Scrollers: This is an intentional, deeply present, in-person experience. If you want to sit in the back and scroll on your phone, please save the seat for someone else. We are here to look each other in the eye and support one another.

What You Will Learn (The 4 Pillars)

• 1. The Power of the Pause: You never have to sign anything at the meeting. Learn to take the paperwork home calmly, professionally, and with zero tension at the table.

• 2. "Stay Put" Peace of Mind: The district cannot change your child’s school, classroom, or therapy minutes without your explicit written agreement. No one can suddenly move your child.

• 3. Getting It Right from the Start: Master the true heart of the IEP—the goals—to build a solid foundation from the ground up without fighting over every detail later.

• 4. The "Who Do I Ask?" Matrix: Stop letting questions loop at 2:00 AM. Get a clear map showing you exactly which specific person to contact for every scenario, from speech minutes to placement questions.

Featured Benefits & Community Culture

📁 The IEP Digital Vault

Leave with your own private, pre-organized Google Drive folder. We do all the organization side-by-side during class so that for every single IEP from then on, organizing your documents takes less than three clicks. If you can check Instagram on your cell phone, you can do this. Zero prior tech skills or education required—we hand-hold you through the entire setup.

🌱 Grow Community: Final Day Potluck

Connect and bond with local San Gabriel Valley families who truly get it. On our very last day of class, we celebrate with a group potluck to cement the supportive network you build here.

The 15-Minute Rule

The first and last 15 minutes of every single class are dedicated strictly to getting your open questions answered. No matter how complicated or unique your day was, you will have dedicated time to unpack it.

Logistics, Fees & Cancellation Policy

Format: 4-Part In-Person Series

• Location: Strictly In-Person, Downtown Monrovia, CA (Near Library Park).

• Class Size: Maximum 8 students to keep things highly intimate and focused.

• Investment: $175 per session ($700 total for the full 4-part series). Fully eligible for Self-Determination Program (SDP) funds under Parent Education (Service Code 102).

• Proactive Proof: Upon completion, you receive an official certificate of completion. Presenting this to your school district functions as a powerful, documented signal of your upfront collaboration and cooperation before a meeting even begins.

Refund Policy

Because we maintain a strict maximum cap of 8 students per cohort, every single seat matters. When you reserve a spot, that seat is completely removed from the market.

• Cancellations requested 7 days or more before the first session will receive a 100% full refund.

• Cancellations requested 6 days or before the first session will receive a 50% refund, or the option to roll 100% of the credit over to the very next available cohort sequence.

• Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice, or after the cohort series has officially commenced, are strictly non-refundable but are transferable for up to the next two cohorts. Sorry.

Meet Your Instructor & The Fine Print

Ellie Morrissey, MS, LEP, BCBA is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and regional expert on Independent Educational Evaluations in private practice in Monrovia CA. She has had the priviledge to serve SPED for over twenty years as a school psychologist, SELPA Program Specialist, and reluctant SELPA CALPADS operator. Most importantly, she and a mom to two neurodivergent children, including her son who navigates Level 2 Autism and a rare visual impairment (Stargardt disease). She has spent over 20 years serving families in California special education, including roles as a school psychologist and a former SELPA Program Specialist. She knows what matters as a professional and gets what matters to you as a parent because she lives this reality every single day. Ellie handles all questions with the same seriousness and care whether you are asking about compliance protocols or whether an imaginary friend, Mr. Flufferwinkles, is allowed to sit next to your child at preschool circle time.

Professional Disclosures

• Not Legal Advice: This course is for educational and parental empowerment purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice.

• IEE Conflict of Interest Policy: Ellie Morrissey actively conducts Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) for school districts and families. To maintain clean professional boundaries, IEEs are never discussed, recommended, or conducted for any class members.

• Translation Limitations: Due to this program currently operating as a one-woman show, formal translation services are not currently available. This series is conducted entirely in English.

Presented by Ellie Morrissey, LEP #4133, BCBA #1-12-11440.