This isn't like the sample letters I have written, it is more an idea of how to go with this sort of letter. Since a response to a letter of Prior Written Notice could be about so many different services or assessments, etc. it becomes apparent why I have chosen to use our letter as an example rather than offering a sample. I believe that if one goes with a generic sort of letter in this case, one will get a generic sort of response which is not at all meaningful or helpful. Just a warning - my sarcastic sense of humor comes through in this particular post, but not in the meat and potatoes of the letter. Our director of special education has a name so close I couldn't help but use the pseudonym Dr. Do-Little. =)
"Chlöe"
Address
City, State, Zip
September 29, 2010
Dr. Do-Little
Director of Special Education
Unified School District
Address
City, State, Zip
RE: My Beautiful Child – D.O.B. 00-00-0000
Letter of Prior Written notice dated 9/24/2010
SENT VIA FAX AND MAIL
Dear Dr. Do-Little,
The purpose of this letter is to determine your reasoning behind denying my daughter, further outside speech therapy. In your letter of Prior Written Notice you simply state that you “respectfully deny” the request. Even with the additional two hours per week of therapy that she was receiving through Speech and Language Center for four months she was not able to meet all of her speech and language goals in the past. Now another expert has recommended that in order to overcome the issues of her Central Auditory Processing Disorder and gain from her education she requires two hours per week of Speech and Language Therapy outside of school hours, yet the district continues to say “no”.
I would think the district would take the recommendations of this expert seriously, especially considering that she is the district’s expert. I point this out to make it clear that although the district has repeatedly referred to this evaluation as an Independent Educational Evaluation it is not. It is the initial evaluation for CAPD offered by the district. This evaluation was only offered after several phone calls and my instructing district personnel on the fact that although district personnel have stated that CAPD had already been tested for, it had not since there is no district personnel legally qualified to test for CAPD. The only person qualified by law to administer testing for CAPD are audiologists, not school psychologists or speech therapists as I have been told by district personnel. Those people are only legally qualified to administer a screening test for CAPD, and given the significance of her CAPD I do not believe that the district was making even a minimal effort to screen for CAPD or it would have been revealed years ago when it could have been addressed with less difficulty and expense. In fact, had this been addressed early on, as it should have been, the district may have saved itself several thousands of dollars in overall special education expenses since from what I can gather, my beautiful daughter’s need for special education lies primarily, if not completely in her processing difficulties.
In addition, I do believe it is against the rules set forth in IDEA to conduct an IEP meeting without decision makers in attendance. Ms. DiGoo-Goo was not able to answer the question of additional speech therapy at the meeting, when in fact I believe you could have foreseen that the question might come up since the recommendation had been made in the report that the district was in receipt of well in advance of the IEP meeting on September 00, 2010.
Finally, I would ask that the district provide more than a cursory response in its Prior Written Notice, the law is clear that the district must provide an explanation, with factors that are relevant to the district’s refusal to provide necessary services as demonstrated by the expert who reported on this need in my daughter’s IEP meeting. Can you point to literature and/or other experts who would disagree with the expert the district referred us to? If so, I would wonder why the district would have referred us to her in the first place, but I believe we are owed more than a baseless opinion before we are willing to accept that this is the correct way to treat this educational condition.
Please get back to me at your earliest possible convenience and respond to my questions as well as letting me know how you intend to proceed to meet my daughter’s auditory processing disorder and speech and language issues since it is obvious that the IEP offer will not meet her needs at this time. When she was offered the services in her current IEP the district did not even realize that she had CAPD and so the district is apparently not willing to address this issue without adding further services to help her to overcome a condition that can be overcome with appropriate services.
Should you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please feel free to contact me. 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Really Tired of the District Avoiding It's Duty to Educate our kids
cc: My attorney
Showing posts with label sample letter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sample letter. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
SAMPLE: Request for Repayment for an IEE
If you have paid for an IEE out of pocket in order to use an expert not employed or contracted with the district or SELPA you will need to gather all relevant information and send it in with a request for reimbursement. This can help you get that letter started. I would highly advise only using experts who are willing to appear at your child's IEP meeting since this is the only way they can clearly advocate for the services they believe your child requires. I have been to meetings in which the expert "appeared" by phone, and this was not at all effective. If your district will not pay for the expert to appear at the IEP meeting I would pay them out of pocket if at all possible.
Everything in italics will need to be set up with your personal information.
Your address
City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name – D.O.B. 00-00-2000
SENT VIA: method(s)
Dear Name,
The purpose of this letter is to provide copies of invoices and proof of payment and request that payment be made for the enclosed invoices for I.E.E.’s for Child’s Name.
You will find two invoices and proofs of payment to Name for providing type of testing, report writing, and attending my child’s IEP and sharing the results of their testing. The total paid to Name is amount.
You will also find invoices and proofs of payment to Name for testing, writing a report, and attending the IEP to report on their findings regarding area tested. The total paid to Name is amount.
If you have any questions regarding these invoices and proofs of payment please feel free to call me at 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your Name
cc: Anyone you feel you should send a copy to
Everything in italics will need to be set up with your personal information.
Your address
City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name – D.O.B. 00-00-2000
SENT VIA: method(s)
Dear Name,
The purpose of this letter is to provide copies of invoices and proof of payment and request that payment be made for the enclosed invoices for I.E.E.’s for Child’s Name.
You will find two invoices and proofs of payment to Name for providing type of testing, report writing, and attending my child’s IEP and sharing the results of their testing. The total paid to Name is amount.
You will also find invoices and proofs of payment to Name for testing, writing a report, and attending the IEP to report on their findings regarding area tested. The total paid to Name is amount.
If you have any questions regarding these invoices and proofs of payment please feel free to call me at 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your Name
cc: Anyone you feel you should send a copy to
SAMPLE: Request for an IEP Meeting
Italics indicate areas that require your personal information.
Address
City, state
Date
Dear Teacher’s name;
I am writing to request that an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) be held regarding , Child’s name (birthdate XX-XX-XXXX). I would like to discuss his/her current goals and progress and have noticed that whatever issue/condition/lack of progress may indicate the need for some changes.
Thank you for seeing to this as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Cc: anyone you wish to send a copy to
Address
City, state
Date
Dear Teacher’s name;
I am writing to request that an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) be held regarding , Child’s name (birthdate XX-XX-XXXX). I would like to discuss his/her current goals and progress and have noticed that whatever issue/condition/lack of progress may indicate the need for some changes.
Thank you for seeing to this as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
Cc: anyone you wish to send a copy to
SAMPLE: Request for District Evaluation
Italics indicate area that you will need to supply your personal information before sending the letter.
Address
City, state
Date
Dear Teacher’s name;
I am writing to request that an Occupational Therapy (or speech, behavioral, assistive technology, etc.) Evaluation be done on my child, Child’s name (birthdate XX-XX-XXXX). I have noticed particularly that whatever issue/condition/lack of progress may indicate a need for these services.
Thank you for seeing to this as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
cc: Anyone you wish to send a copy to
Address
City, state
Date
Dear Teacher’s name;
I am writing to request that an Occupational Therapy (or speech, behavioral, assistive technology, etc.) Evaluation be done on my child, Child’s name (birthdate XX-XX-XXXX). I have noticed particularly that whatever issue/condition/lack of progress may indicate a need for these services.
Thank you for seeing to this as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Your name
cc: Anyone you wish to send a copy to
SAMPLE: Thank you for IEE
I always send thank you notes whenever I can. Although the people at the district may or may not take this seriously, it does paint me as a person who is reasonable, understands appropriate behavior, and is gracious. This is important should I later have to go to court. It is a paper trail of kindness and decorum which would make it difficult for the district to portray me as difficult and unreasonable as they are likely to do given any opportunity.
Italics indicate areas that you should input your own information.
Your address
City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District
Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name - D.O.B. 00-00-0000
SENT VIA: Method
Dear Name,
The purpose of this letter is to respond to your letter dated Month day, Year in which you agree to provide an Independent Educational Evaluation (“IEE”) in the area of whatever area at public expense. Thank you for agreeing to that evaluation. Thank you also for providing the names of several possible resources. As you are aware, we are not required to choose from the provided list, and as such we will be requesting that Name, perform the IEE.
Name is a licensed (or certified therapist or doctor, etc.) whose offices are located at Address, City, State Zip. The phone number is 000-000-0000. The fax number is 000-000-0000.
Should you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please feel free to contact me at 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your name
cc: Anyone you wish to send a copy to
Italics indicate areas that you should input your own information.
Your address
City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District
Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name - D.O.B. 00-00-0000
SENT VIA: Method
Dear Name,
The purpose of this letter is to respond to your letter dated Month day, Year in which you agree to provide an Independent Educational Evaluation (“IEE”) in the area of whatever area at public expense. Thank you for agreeing to that evaluation. Thank you also for providing the names of several possible resources. As you are aware, we are not required to choose from the provided list, and as such we will be requesting that Name, perform the IEE.
Name is a licensed (or certified therapist or doctor, etc.) whose offices are located at Address, City, State Zip. The phone number is 000-000-0000. The fax number is 000-000-0000.
Should you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please feel free to contact me at 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your name
cc: Anyone you wish to send a copy to
SAMPLE: Request for an IEE (Independent Educational Evaluation)
Italics indicate areas in which you should place your own information.
Your address
Your City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District
Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name – D.O.B. Child’s Birthdate
SENT VIA: US Mail or Fax or Hand delivered
Dear Name of Head of Special Education,
The purpose of this letter is to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (“IEE”) at public expense pursuant to 34 C.F.R. 300.502(b). At this time I disagree with the Type of Assessment Report presented at Child’s Name IEP on date. As a result we are requesting an IEE at public expense. We intend to consult with Name of alternate provider who is legally capable of providing the evaluation along with address and phone number (if you already know it, if not leave off this sentence).
Please be advised that if the District refuses to fund the IEE, we reserve the right to obtain it and seek reimbursement. Please respond “without unnecessary delay.”
Should you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please feel free to contact me. 000-000-0000 or 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your Name
cc: Anyone you believe you should send a copy to
Your address
Your City, State Zip
Date
Name
Director of Special Education
Your District
Address
City, State Zip
RE: Child’s Name – D.O.B. Child’s Birthdate
SENT VIA: US Mail or Fax or Hand delivered
Dear Name of Head of Special Education,
The purpose of this letter is to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (“IEE”) at public expense pursuant to 34 C.F.R. 300.502(b). At this time I disagree with the Type of Assessment Report presented at Child’s Name IEP on date. As a result we are requesting an IEE at public expense. We intend to consult with Name of alternate provider who is legally capable of providing the evaluation along with address and phone number (if you already know it, if not leave off this sentence).
Please be advised that if the District refuses to fund the IEE, we reserve the right to obtain it and seek reimbursement. Please respond “without unnecessary delay.”
Should you have any questions regarding this correspondence, please feel free to contact me. 000-000-0000 or 000-000-0000.
Sincerely,
Your Name
cc: Anyone you believe you should send a copy to
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