Special education · Puerto Rico
Special education attorney in Puerto Rico
Personal attention, clear communication, and dedicated advocacy define our approach to your case.
Understand the IEP, document missing services, and explore options for disagreements with Puerto Rico's Department of Education.
On this page
Your situation
The review begins with the educational program and what actually happens.
The office reviews identification, evaluations, IEPs, family participation in IEP team meetings, related services, assistive technology, and placement. Written records help distinguish a pending recommendation, an agency decision, and an approved service that has not started. Each situation may call for a different response.
You do not need every answer before contacting the office. Identify what you know and what remains unconfirmed. Mention any approaching deadline immediately.
Find your situation
Prepare for your inquiry
Which documents should you gather?
Keep originals. Organize legible copies, and do not delay an urgent inquiry because your records are incomplete.
- Current IEP and relevant versions from the past two years.
- IEP team meeting minutes, signed or unsigned, and written notices.
- Recent evaluations and progress reports.
- Communications about the disputed service, evaluation, or placement.
From first contact to next steps
How the process usually begins.
- 01
Initial Screening
Explain the main concern and important dates.
What to know
Before a meeting can be arranged, you must complete the automated Clio Grow intake process and receive confirmation from the office. Initial consultations are free and strictly confidential, by videoconference. Every meeting requires completing Clio Grow intake first and receiving confirmation from the office.
- 02
Records and review
The IEP, evaluations, minutes, and implementation are compared.
What to know
More information or an additional step may be needed.
- 03
Options and engagement
Available steps and engagement terms are explained.
What to know
Review does not mean automatic acceptance.
- 04
Handling the matter
Depending on the record and agreed scope, the next steps may involve communications, agreements, a complaint, or other work.
The sequence may vary with the facts, legal deadlines, and available information.
«I was always able to communicate quickly with him, both by phone and by email.»Start with your question
Information to help you find your way.
View all 58 questions in this practiceAn IEP service has not started or has stopped. What should I do?
Compare the IEP service with what your child receives. Identify start date, frequency, duration, and location, and describe the gap in writing. A recommendation still awaiting team consideration differs from an IEP service already owed.
Read the complete answerWhat should I review in my child’s IEP?
The IEP should connect identified needs to measurable goals, specific services, and a way to measure progress. A therapy list or a general description does not replace that connection.
Read the complete answerHow do I evaluate a school placement proposed by the DEPR?
Compare the proposal with the IEP and evaluations. Section 300.116 requires parents and knowledgeable participants, at least annual review, and a decision based on the IEP and least-restrictive-environment rules. A school’s name alone does not explain its program.
Read the complete answerHow can I request my child's education records?
Request access in writing and identify the records: current and earlier IEPs, minutes, evaluations, progress reports, and communications. Identify the student in the request to the agency, ask for acknowledgement, and keep a copy.
Read the complete answerGoogle reviews
Trust, in their own words.
«The attorney was always diligent, clear, and accessible.»«His empathy brought us calm in moments of despair.»Individual experiences do not guarantee results. Rating and review count verified September 12, 2026.
Litigation experience. Personal attention.
Francisco J. Vizcarrondo personally directs the evaluation and legal course of his office’s matters. Civil litigation in Puerto Rico since 2004, with service in Spanish and English.
Member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).
Consultation, scope, and office policies
Free, strictly confidential initial consultation
Every initial consultation in Special education is free of charge and conducted on a strictly confidential basis. Before a meeting can be arranged, our automated Clio Grow intake process must be completed. The office reviews whether the matter falls within its practice areas and meets its acceptance criteria, including the severity of injuries when relevant. Only if a consultation is appropriate does the office arrange a videoconference for the prospective client’s benefit and convenience.
Scope of practice
Information and inquiries about Special education in Puerto Rico.
We do not provide consultations or undertake legal representation in matters involving family law, criminal law, labor or employment law, Social Security, succession and inheritance law, estate planning, bankruptcy, immigration, real estate, or consumer rights.
Francisco J. Vizcarrondo has been a licensed notary public in Puerto Rico since 2004.
Start with the intake review.
Initial consultations are free and strictly confidential, by videoconference. Every meeting requires completing Clio Grow intake first and receiving confirmation from the office.