In This Issue ...

• Assignment #2: Write a Letter


• Sample Letter: ESY


• Sample Letter: Retention


• More Sample Letters

Circulation: 85, 723
ISSN: 1538-320
August 30, 2011

In the Summer School Short Course you have been learning how to advocate by writing effective letters to the school.

We have reviewed:

• the five purposes of letters and how to use the letter's purpose to guide you.
• strategies to ensure that your letters will assure someone will read them and accomplish their purpose.
• rules of letter writing, how to write business letters, and pitfalls to avoid.
• how to write (1) evidence letters that can testify for you and (2) story-telling letters that can make your case.

This week you will write a letter.

This issue of the Special Ed Advocate includes Part 6 of the Short Course and assignment #2. You will also find sample letters that you can adapt to your own circumstances.

Please don't hesitate to forward this issue to friends, family members, or colleagues.

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Assignment #2: WRITE A LETTER

Your assignment this week is to write a short, one page letter to the school to request an action.

Before you write, answer these questions:

• Why am I writing? What is my purpose?
• What do I want? What am I trying to accomplish?

We will use a 20 point checklist to review your letter to ensure you have included all of the correct elements. Time to get started...Complete assignment #2 - Write a letter.

Sample Letter: Get Answers to Your ESY Questions from School Personnel

Do you think the school has provided incorrect or incomplete information about your child's IEP? You can use the sample letter in this article if you feel you've been "misinformed" by school personnel about ESY policy.

Use the letter as a request to reconvene an IEP team meeting to discuss ESY services.

Sample Letter: Request the School NOT Retain Your Child

This sample letter describes a parents' concerns about the school's proposal to retain their child. It is an example of how you can use story-telling in letters that document events and describe your concerns.

The parents sent this letter to request the school not retain their child.

More Sample Letters

1. In Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, Chapter 23 and 24, you will find 16 more sample letters that you can easily adapt to your own circumstances.

2. New teacher or paraprofessional for your child this school year? Do you want to learn their qualifications? Download the request for teacher qualifications letter in pdf to request this information from the school.

3. In Wrightslaw: All About IEPs, Chapter 7, you will find a "Sample Letter to Request Functional Behavioral Assessment and Positive Behavior Support Plan."

4. Sue Whitney advises parents to obtain school medical records, write a medical plan, and recommends that parents use this sample letter to request an eligibility meeting under IDEA.

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