The Arc of Western Wayne County: Serving people with disabilities

The Take Charge Helpline

What is Prior Notice?

The school must provide prior written notice to the parents of a child with a disability each time it proposes to or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of free appropriate public education to your child.

The notice must include:

• A full explanation of all of the procedural safeguards available to parents.
• A description of where a parent can obtain a copy of the procedural safeguards document.
• A description of the action proposed or refused by the school, an explanation of why the school proposes or refuses to take the action, and a description of the options the school considered and the reasons why those options were rejected.

The notice must also include

• A description of each evaluation procedure, test, record, or report the school uses as a basis for the proposal or refusal.
• A description of any other factors which are relevant to the school’s proposal or refusal, and
• A list of sources that parents may contact to obtain assistance in understanding the content of the prior notice.

The notice must be written in language understandable to the general public, and provided in the native language of the parent or other mode of communication used by the parent, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so.

If you have questions about your rights regarding prior notice, call The Arc at 734-729-9100.

Phone code: 1608