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Bait and switch refers to situations where a school or district promises or agrees to a support, accommodation, or plan, but later substitutes something different or significantly reduced. Families may initially be told that certain resources, staffing, or accommodations will be available to help a student succeed, only to find that the actual support delivered is less than what was discussed. In education advocacy, this can occur when commitments made in meetings, plans, or informal conversations are later reframed, delayed, or replaced with alternatives that do not meet the same need. The result can be confusion and frustration for families who believed a solution had been agreed upon. When expectations change without clear explanation, it can also make it harder to track accountability or determine what was actually promised. Clear documentation and written confirmation of agreements can help reduce the risk of misunderstandings or shifting commitments. Also see goalpost shifting.

One of the most disorienting parts of advocacy is discovering that schools treat your written record of what happened as the problem—rather than what happened to your child. You kept notes because promises kept disappearing. You followed up in writing because…