How to Track Home Data to Support an IEP Request

By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate

When parents raise concerns about their child’s progress, schools often respond with “we’re not seeing that here.” One of the most effective ways to bridge that gap is by tracking data at home. Home data does not replace school data, but it can strongly support an IEP request, a reevaluation, or the need for additional services when patterns are clear and documented.

Home data helps show frequency, duration, and impact. It creates a timeline of concerns and provides real examples of how a disability affects a child outside the classroom. Under IDEA, parents are equal members of the IEP team, and information provided by parents must be considered.

What counts as home data

Home data does not need to be complicated or clinical. It should be consistent, observable, and tied to a specific concern. Useful types of home data include:

Behavior logs documenting meltdowns, shutdowns, avoidance, or aggression. Note what happened before, during, and after.

Academic observations such as how long homework takes, how much support is needed, or whether work can be completed independently.

Regulation and sensory data including sleep issues, school refusal, fatigue after school, or sensory overload.

Communication data such as difficulty expressing needs, word retrieval issues, frustration when misunderstood, or regression under stress.

Health and attendance impacts including headaches, stomachaches, anxiety, or days missed or shortened due to school-related stress.

What to include in your data log

Each entry should answer a few simple questions:

Date and time
What skill or concern you observed
What your child was asked to do
What happened
How long it lasted
What level of support was needed

Avoid conclusions and stick to facts. For example, instead of writing “he was being defiant,” write “he cried, pushed the paper away, and said ‘I can’t’ for 25 minutes when asked to complete a 10-problem worksheet.”

How often should you track data

Short, consistent data is more powerful than long, sporadic notes. Aim to track:

Daily for one to two weeks for behavior or regulation concerns
Two to three weeks for academic concerns
Longer if the issue is intermittent but recurring

Even five to ten entries showing the same pattern can be enough to support an evaluation or IEP discussion.

Organizing your data

You can use a simple notebook, a notes app, or a spreadsheet. What matters is clarity and consistency. Many parents find it helpful to group entries by concern, such as reading, math, emotional regulation, or transitions.

If possible, match your language to IEP terms like attention, executive functioning, regulation, written expression, or social communication. This helps the team connect your observations to eligibility categories and service needs.

How to use home data in an IEP request

Home data can be attached to:

A written request for an initial evaluation
A request to add services or increase minutes
A request for a Functional Behavioral Assessment
A request for reevaluation or additional areas of assessment

You can state that the attached parent data reflects ongoing concerns and request that it be considered by the IEP team. Schools may not ignore parent-provided information, even if it differs from what they see in the classroom.

Final thoughts

You do not need permission to track your child’s needs at home. Your observations are valid, relevant, and protected under IDEA. When documented clearly and calmly, home data can be the missing piece that helps a school understand the full picture and take appropriate action.

If you’re unsure how to organize your data or how to present it to the school, an educational advocate can help you align your documentation with IDEA requirements and IEP best practices.