|
| Records Request Sample Letter |
Scenario for Records Request
Realizing that something is amiss with your child's educational program due to an obvious lack of progress, the denial of a particular service you believe your child needs or any number of red signals, you need to do something. You need a plan of action. This is where to start.
You can copy and paste the letter right from this web page.
Return Address
Date
Guidance Counselor's Name
School Name
Address
City, ST Zip
Dear (Guidance Counselor's Name):
Re: (Child's name goes here), D.O.B. (Date of Birth Goes Here)
I am requesting a copy of all of my (son's/daughter's) school records contained in her educational file. I want the pages that I will specifiy taken out of the folder when they are being copied in the copier. Clearly copied pages will give me the ability to read them without hinderance.
These are the specific types of information and files I want:
All tests given and test results, all evaluations given including speech and language, all psychoeducational evaluations and any other evaluations, all progress reports, full copies of all IEPs, all Matrix of Service copies, any teacher, therapist or evaluators notes and memos.
Please contact me as to when I can pick these copies up or if I need to come to the school to designate which pages I want copied and the cost for making the copies.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
(Your Name Here)
What Impact A Request For Records Produces
Once you have all the records you need. Organize them by the type of record. For example put all IEPs together in chronological order, all psychoeducational evaluations in chronological order, all Matrix of Service pages in chronological order, speech, OT, developmental evaluations, in chronological order. You get the picture. Then do a comparison of test results. Do they reflect no progress, extremely slow progress or regression from year to year? Check the Matrix of Service number to see if it changes from year to year. Does it remain the same, decrease or increase from year to year? Check your IEPs to see what changes or lack of changes occur in the yearly goals and benchmarks.
Take notes on what you discover. Go to the wrightslaw.com website to learn about tests and measurements. The information you gain about your child's progress by analyzing these school records and by having a clear understanding of analyzing test scores will give you a pretty clear idea of what has been occuring in your child's educational program. The facts about why your child's educational program is not working to produce significant and measurable progress will become evident. You will be able to present these facts in writing to the IEP team. Another written document containing the facts about your child's lack of progress is more evidence and more pressure for accountability on the part of the school system to provide an accurate and appropriate educational plan for your child.
Learn more about what an IEP should have by clicking here.
|
|
|
