What to Do When the School Won’t Communicate
By: Becca Phillips, Advocate
Communication with your child’s school, especially a child with special needs when their education and rights under law are at stake so to speak, shouldn’t be an uphill battle. As a parent advocate, I have worked with and currently work with families who have felt ignored, stonewalled, or simply not listened to by their child’s school. Remember that you are not alone and the law is on your side.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), there are guaranteed procedural safeguards that protect not only your child's rights to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), but your rights as the parent or guardian to be informed and involved in making decisions.
If teachers, administrators, case managers, etc. are not responding to your phone calls or in person conversations, switch to more formal communication. Put your requests, concerns, or questions in writing through email to create a paper trail. Clearly state your request and reference IDEA regulations if you can. Keep copies of everything, because documenting your efforts can be critical if you need to file a complaint or due process down the road. Schools are required to provide you a Prior Written Notice (PWN) when they propose or refuse to initiate or change your child’s evaluation, eligibility, placement, or services (34 C.F.R. § 300.503). They are also required to provide you access to your child’s educational records upon request (34 C.F.R. § 300.613) and informed consent before evaluation and any changes to services. Communicate with your child’s school team if these measures aren’t being provided.
IDEA does not explicitly mandate daily communication between the school and parents, but it does require that parents receive notice and meaningful information when it regards decisions that affect your child. Some families we work with add in daily or weekly communication logs or plans to their child’s IEPs to facilitate communication between the school and parents. You can also ask for written summaries and a copy of meeting minutes from any meeting, schedule weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly check-ins with your child’s team, and as mentioned prior, include specific communication expectations into the IEP.
When schools fail to communicate or ignore your requests for information when it is in regards to your child’s needs, evaluation, services, and meetings, it can violate IDEA’s procedural safeguards. This does not ensure you are being provided an opportunity to meaningfully participate in the IEP process. Document everything, including your attempts for communication. Keep a detailed log of all communication attempts (emails, phone calls, in person visits, programs your school may use like Parent Square), as well as a log of the content and topic of conversations.
It can also be helpful if your school has a history of lack of communication, to be very clear and specific when you communicate, especially if you know responses are infrequent. Ask direct questions such as, “What date can I expect to receive a draft of my child’s IEP for our IEP meeting on ___?”, “What specific skills is my child struggling with in the areas of math, reading, and writing?”, “Can you provide me with the documentation and details of the bullying incident that occurred on ____ and the exact steps that will be taken to prevent future incidents?”. It’s helpful to ask questions that will provide clear, explicit answers focusing on what you need to know, how you will be updated, and what next steps are rather than asking more vague questions such as “How is my child doing in your class?”.
If you are having difficulty communicating with your child’s general education teacher and/or case manager, you can escalate your communication. Ask to speak to or reach out directly to the school administrators, reach out to your special education coordinator or reach out to the director at the district level. You can also seek external support through an advocate when schools continue to ignore requests. As advocates we know the laws and your rights and bringing on additional external support can often get schools to communicate more effectively. Parent support groups may also have templates or strategies that other parents have shared that worked for them.
At the end of the day, effective communication is crucial for your child’s success. When a school will not communicate or simply doesn’t communicate well, it is a barrier to your child’s rights. IDEA was designed to ensure you are always included and law gives you leverage to enforce your rights. Stay persistent, stay organized, and if you need help ask for it, we are always here to help as advocates and push for consistent and clear communication.
