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And my reply: Nope, you are not overreacting. In fact, you’re spot on—and thank you for caring enough to ask this. You're right to be cautious. That 15-business-day waiting period was put into place for a reason: to protect parents and give them time to understand, reflect on, and dispute any proposed IEP changes—especially if those changes are significant, like moving a child from general ed to a self-contained setting. Let’s break this down: 1. Waiving the Waiting Period Is Optional The law in Louisiana (Act 696, passed in 2023) says that a parent may waive the 15-business-day delay in writing—but they don’t have to. The default is that the IEP does not go into effect until the 16th business day after the parent signs the PWN, unless they explicitly choose to waive it. ✔ So when you see a culture shift where waiving it is treated as “standard” or “best practice,” that’s… not great. It’s not illegal, but it undermines the original intent of the law—to give families breathing room. 2. Big Changes = Big Red Flags You're right that the waiting period is especially important when: The student is being moved to a more restrictive setting (like from gen ed to SSCD). There are major behavioral or placement changes being made. The parents seem unsure, confused, or overwhelmed. In those cases, encouraging a parent to waive that protection could cross the line into manipulation—or at the very least, create a situation where parents don't know they’re giving up something important. 3. It’s Not Overreacting—It’s Ethical Advocacy Teachers like you—who recognize nuance and equity—are exactly what our students need. Saying, “Hey, I know we usually do this, but in this situation, I’d encourage the family to hold off and think it over,” is not overstepping. That’s doing right by the student. And yes, in a situation like the one you described—where a student with behavior needs was placed in a self-contained setting without parent pushback or a true attempt at supports in gen ed—that’s a clear scenario where you’d absolutely want to preserve that waiting period. If you're getting pressure from admin or colleagues, you might consider: Referring families to Louisiana’s PTI (Families Helping Families); while they still exist anyway; or you can refer them here Offering neutral language like: “You do have the option to waive the waiting period, but it’s completely your choice, and it’s there to give you time to ask questions or get clarification.” Keeping documentation of cases where you believe the waiver might not be in the best interest of the student. Bottom line: You’re not overreacting—you’re being exactly the thoughtful, equity-focused educator your students need. Keep doing what you're doing.