Pulling a bunch of money out of the system with a lawsuit is not a winning outcome if it leaves the existing corrupt power structure in place. Be warned that for many lawyers, the goal will be money, not improvement. Do not use a lawyer whose goals are different than your own.

This is good advice in general for dealing with the tort portion of the US legal system. But we shouldn't forget the general deterrence effect of money damages.

And in education law in particular, money damages for being a negligent educator are essential impossible to get, so the extreme money grubbers aren't in this market. In special education, money damages simply for having a stupid education plan are unavailable under the most important special education statute.

That said, the rest of this post is excellent advice.