My daughter just started middle school, and shes having a lot of trouble keeping up. She was never a straight-A student, but now her grades are dropping, she doesnt turn in her homework, and she doesnt seem to really understand what shes being taught. Shouldnt her teachers be doing something?

In an ideal world, yes -- but of course, thats not where were living. Your school district has a legal obligation to identify children that might need special education and evaluate their situation. But if the district doesnt do its job, you can give it a little push. Send a letter to the school principal. Briefly explain the problems your child is having and ask the school to evaluate whether your child is eligible for special education.

Only children with disabilities, as defined by a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA), are entitled to special education. Common sense suggests that your daughter might be struggling with a learning disability. These days kids face more homework and testing than ever before, and this pressure really starts to build in middle school -- so thats often when some learning disabilities first become apparent. Fortunately, there are lots of great teaching methods and special services out there that can really help children with learning disabilities succeed. The trick is to make sure your daughter gets access to them.

Under IDEA, the district must provide disabled children with an appropriate education -- one that gives them the special help they need to succeed in school. Once you start the ball rolling by sending your letter, the school will test your child to determine whether she has a disability. If the tests show that she does, you and the school will meet to come up with an individual education program (an IEP) for your child, including the special help or services she needs to make sense of her school work.

For a general overview of special education and the IEP process, read Overview of Special Education Law.