If Your Child Has an IEP, Do This Before the End of the School Year

Jake Fishbein
7 days ago
3 min read

Let’s be honest: Some days, parenting feels like a never-ending game of catch-up.

You forget to check the backpack. You’re late on a signup. You realize your child was supposed to bring something to school, and it’s already too late. It happens to the best of us.

And when your child has an IEP, there’s even more to track. More paperwork. More services. More meetings. More ways to feel like you’re falling behind.

But here’s something small that can make a big difference:

Request a full copy of your child’s special education records before the school year ends.

Illustration with a folder labeled "IEP," text advises to request child's special education records. Colorful highlights accentuate key phrases.

It’s one of the simplest ways to head into summer feeling more prepared and less overwhelmed. And if you use Highlighter, you can upload those records and immediately get personalized guidance, so you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Why Requesting IEP Records Now Can Save You Stress Later

Once school’s out, staff are harder to reach, and record requests often fall through the cracks. If you wait until August or September to request your child’s IEP or service logs, you might not get what you need in time for fall planning.

Requesting your child’s records now helps you:

Confirm what services were actually provided
Understand progress toward IEP goals
Spot any gaps or issues before next year starts
Build a complete, organized record of your child’s support history

Even if this year felt smooth, the documentation often tells a different story. Having those files in hand gives you the full picture—and a major head start.

What Special Education Records to Request

You don’t have to write a formal letter or cite any laws. A short, clear email is enough. Here’s a message you can send:

Subject: Request for Special Education Records

Hi [Teacher or Case Manager],

As the school year wraps up, I’d like to request a full copy of my child’s special education records. Please include the most recent IEP, any amendments, evaluations, progress reports, service logs, and other relevant documents. Let me know if you need anything else from me. Thank you,[Your Name]

Here’s a more detailed checklist of what you can ask for:

Most recent IEP (and any updates or amendments)
Progress reports for IEP goals
Service delivery logs (speech, OT, PT, counseling, etc.)
Evaluation reports and assessments
Prior Written Notices (PWNs)
IEP meeting notes or summaries
Behavior or discipline records, if relevant

Where to Store Your Child’s Records

Once you get the records, you want to make sure they’re safe, organized, and easy to use—not lost in a pile of emails or buried in a drawer.

That’s exactly what Highlighter is for.

Highlighter gives you a secure, private place to upload and store your child’s IEPs, evaluations, and service logs—all in one place. But it doesn’t stop there.

When you upload documents to Highlighter, you can instantly:

See which services were documented as delivered
Review progress on goals
Get personalized guidance based on what’s in your child’s file

No more second-guessing. No more trying to figure it out alone. Just clear next steps, tailored to your situation.

What to Do If the School Doesn’t Respond

If you don’t hear back after a few days, follow up. It’s completely appropriate to send a second (or third) message. You have the legal right to access your child’s educational records—it’s okay to be persistent.