Sample Letter to Document a Problem or Request an IEP Meeting
by Pete & Pam Wright
Wrightslaw.com
Print this page
Parents: you can use this letter as a template, changing the facts and details to fit your situation.
[Insert Parent name, Address, Phone number]
Mary Parent
500 Oak Street
Centerville, IN 60010
(899) 555-1234
[Insert date]
May 15, 2020
[Insert Name and Address of School Contact Person]
Dr. Charles Noe
Stonewall Middle School
1000 Central Avenue
Centerville, IN 60010
[Insert Child's Name, DOB, School]
Reference: Jamie Spencer
DOB: 01/01/2006
Stonewall Middle School
[Insert name of Contact Person or "School IEP Team Members"]
Dear School IEP Team Members,
I appreciate your work to develop a Contingency Learning Plan (CLP) for my child, Jamie Spencer, so he can receive special education services while the school is closed.
I have serious concerns about this proposed plan. I want members of my child's IEP team to address these concerns.
Jamie has learning disabilities, attention problems, mild cerebral palsy, and other neurological and developmental problems. He requires individualized special education services to address his unique needs and circumstances.
Between my child's disabilities and the realities of our family's lives, the services provided by the school are not meeting his needs.
[Add details about the problem. For example, my child and I do not understand the assignments, the assignment are not modified, I have trouble accessing the online instruction, the time for online instruction conflicts with my work schedule, we struggle with work refusal, my child is depressed and misses his teacher, my child is not getting speech therapy, or my child does not respond to virtual instruction.]
Before school closed, the school was providing:
- a 1:1 classroom aide who helped him learn grade level material
- three 20 minute sessions with the speech language pathologist each week
- two 25 minute sessions with the occupational therapy each week
In the two months since the school closed in mid-March, the school is providing:
- packets of materials that are not related to his needs, instructional level, interests, or grade
- one 30 minute session with the speech language pathologist in two months
- two emails with "suggested activities" from the OT in two months
Jamie's teachers offer zoom meetings but his dad and I work full-time so it is impossible for us to participate in these meetings or supervise him. For a while, Jamie was trying. Since he has received no instruction that meets his needs, he is giving up on the school and himself.
The school seems to assume that parents have the training, expertise, and TIME to educate their children with disabilities. Although we try to help Jamie, he is falling further and further behind. I am so disappointed in the school and I feel so helpless.
I have not had a chance to express my concerns. I cannot consent to this "Contingency Learning Plan" [or the amendment to my child's IEP] as proposed by the school. Any changes to Jamie's services will have to be made in a meeting with his IEP team.
I am requesting a IEP meeting by video or phone.
I am requesting Extended School Year (ESY) services.
If we cannot agree on how to provide appropriate services for my child while the school remains closed, I am requesting that we convene an IEP meeting within 30 days of school re-opening to discuss compensatory educational services.
I look forward to working with the IEP team to develop a plan to address my child's unique needs. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mary Parent
Parent IEP Team Member
Created: 05/14/20
Revised: 00/00/00
