How do I write a letter of parent concerns before an IEP?

Let the team know that you will be emailing the letter before the meeting, along with mailing a hard copy to be placed in your child’s file. List what you perceive are your child’s areas of need that have and have not been addressed in their IEP, such as social skills, communication skills and/or speech delay, gross or fine motor skills, or academic skills like reading and math fluency. Highlight your child’s areas of strength and what strategies have been successful at home. This can help the team at school craft accommodations that more accurately fit your child’s needs. Point out strategies that have not worked and how they might be altered.

If you are working with an advocate or a lawyer, inform the IEP team of this in the letter, especially if they will be present at the meeting. Use language that is polite and professional to help keep negotiations respectful.

For more, see our article IEP Parental Concerns Letter: Pros and Cons.