Written Notice

The purpose of Written Notice is to fully inform the parent(s) and/or adult student of the proposed or refused action(s) made by the team.

The Written Notice tells the story of a meeting (if one was held) or other consideration and what decisions were made by the team at that time. It should be written in a way that will allow the parent to review the information at a later time and have a full, clear picture of the discussion. The native language or other mode of communication normally used by the parent/adult student should be used (unless it is not feasible to do so).

Any special education action MUST be documented through a Written Notice. 

Written Notice is Required (Idaho Special Education Manual, Chapter 11, Section 4C)

• Before the district proposes to:

  • Initiate/change identification

  • Initiate/change educational placement

  • Initiate/change educational placement due to disciplinary action

• If the district decides to refuse the parent/adult student’s request to:

  • Convene an IEP Team meeting

  • Initiate/change identification

  • Initiate/change educational placement

  • Change the IEP

• If the student is due for reevaluation to determine continued eligibility and it has been determined that further assessment is not necessary.

• The parent files a due process hearing request.

• The parent/adult student revokes consent for the continued provision of special education.

When a student leaves a Network School, that results in a change in educational placement and Written Notice should be completed. A guideline for content of WN when services are being discontinued can be found here. See the Discontinuation of Services page in this guide for additional information.

Written Notice is NOT Required (Idaho Special Education Manual Chap. 11 Sec. 4D)

• When reviewing existing data as part of an evaluation or reevaluation.

• When a test will be given to all students.

• If using typical formative data to determine students’ progress towards IEP goals:

  • Curriculum-based assessments,

  • Ongoing classroom evaluations, and/or

  • Criterion-referenced tests.

• If outside observation is in relation to the teacher's general practice.

Embedded WN’s are found in the IEP and IEP Amendment processes within EDPlan. There is also a stand alone WN to use in the event that the above-mentioned forms with the embedded WN is not applicable to the situation. The Consent for Assessment does not require another stand alone Written Notice. The Written Notice located under the Referral/Eligibility Process next to the Create Referral and Request for Input form at the bottom of the page is to be used when a new Referral Form and Request for Input Form are created. Always send a Written Notice with these forms.

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