Federal law tells schools that they must provide the services that children need to succeed.

However, schools are only reimbursed for a fraction of the funds needed for resources like reading specialists, speech pathologists, social workers etc. Cash-strapped schools can get stingy when it comes to offering the interventions that many children need.

As parents, we often have to fight for our children to get help when they face a challenge in school. If your school is pushing back on your request to get support or testing for your child, visit your school's mission statement.

More often than not, the mission statement will speak to more than just academics. It may say something about "nurturing the whole child" or "emphasizing the intellectual, social, emotional and physical development of each child." Use this when you make a request - in writing, always! - for the school to take action and help your child.