Special Education Plans

My now 7 year old son has been getting speech since age 3, and OT since age 4. We were in California, and last year was his update evaluation (after 3 years) and he still qualified for 1 hour of speech per week and 1/2 hour of OT. When he was Kinder age, (we pulled him out and homeschooled because they gave him the worst teacher for a boy who can't sit still) he was getting speech 2 times per week and OT one time per week. Last year we did a virtual school that paid for private therapy, which ended up being the same amount of time in one session for speech, and every other week for one hour for OT.

This fall we moved to Washington State. We are homeschooling, but under guidance of the local school district, and will be getting services at the local school. I finally talked with the speech therapist today (we will meet on Thursday) and she said that she only does 1/2 hour per week per student, and she didn't see how she could do more. (She also had not seen his IEP yet.) Unfortunately, his IEP needs to be updated by October 8, and while he did make progress last year, I don't think that cutting his time in half is appropriate. He is easily distracted, needs time to settle or needs consistent frequent therapy. Last summer he qualified for extended school year because he regressed significantly over the two week winter break.

What can and what should I do? I suspect that when they update the IEP they will want to do it as the shorter time and will give some sorts of reasons why this is appropriate. The fact is, without even seeing his IEP she wants to shorten his time, nothing based on him. Can they do this when people move from different states? I thought an IEP was an IEP and they had to go by what it said across the nation.

Thanks for any replies before Thursday!

Here's what IDEA has to say about changing school districts.
"In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, who enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in another state, the school district shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previous IEP, in consultation with the child's parents until such time as the district conducts an evaluation, if determined to be necessary, and develops a new IEP, if appropriate, that is consistent with Federal and State law."

So, it would seem that they have to follow the former IEP unless they complete a new evaluation and can justify a reduction in services.

Further, a school cannot say that everyone gets 1/2 hour of services and that's it. An IEP is an INDIVIDUAL education plan and each student's needs are different. I came across a suggested amount of therapy time for speech according the the type and severity of the speech problem. I will see if I can find it and if I do, I will post it here.

Good luck!