What Is Prior Written Notice?

Prior written notice is a written explanation the school must give you before it proposes or refuses a change to your child's identification, evaluation, placement, or special education services. It is your record of what the school decided and why.

When the team proposes a change, or refuses something you asked for, the district should send you a written notice. A complete notice describes the action, explains the reasons, lists the records and reports used, describes other options the team considered, and explains why those options were not chosen. It should be written in language you can understand.

Notice usually comes after a meeting where a decision was made. Keep every notice with your child's records. If you disagree with a decision, notice tells you what steps are available in your state. If you asked for something and never received a written answer, ask the team for it in writing. That request keeps the conversation on the record.

You ask the team to add speech therapy minutes. The district decides not to change the plan. A prior written notice should explain that decision, the data the team reviewed, and the other options considered, so you can see the reasoning and decide what to do next.