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Most parents are convinced of the importance of an annual medical checkup for their children, but what about an annual education checkup? ParentSmart suggests that a good way to help assure a child’s progress in school is to conduct an Annual Education Checkup. This checklist tells you how. Basic steps
include reviewing home and school files kept on your child, interviewing your
child’s teacher and possibly other members of the school staff. If your child is having special problems in
school you may need to consult some of the schools system’s specialists. After talking to
your child’s teacher or counselor and reviewing and correcting the school
record, if any aspect of your child’s schooling remains unsatisfactory to you,
there are some steps you can take toward resolving the situation. You can
appeal to the principal, the superintendent or the school board if you disagree
with disciplinary action or school policies and practices. Keep in mind that when you request a hearing
it is your right to bring you own expert, a doctor, a lawyer, interpreter or
parent advocate. Working together with the school is the best way to help your child in school. It is out hope that this review will help discover school problems early and give parents and teachers a chance to work out a plan for each child to guarantee school success. The following sections each present a category and a checklist. At Home Check on school
related materials sent home during the past year. It’s a good idea to keep a separate file on each child. As you review the file, ask your child for
his or her comments on school. You
might ask, “what do you like best and least?” and “What would you like to
change?” The checklist
below lists other questions to consider.
Parent-Teacher Conference Many schools
schedule regular parent-teacher conferences during the fall months. If your school does not do this, you should
make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher in October or November. It is most helpful if both parents can be
available to attend the conference. You preparation
for the Parent Teacher Conference should include a review of the materials you
file at home and the child’s school records.
Make a list of questions or topics you wish to raise during the
conference and be sure to cover those listed below.
PARENTS: If your child has been identified as learning disabled or has physical or emotional issues Public Law 94-142 requires that you be involved in the annual development and review of and Individualized Education Program for your child. Ask about your school’s plans for compliance with this federal law. ParentSmart
makes available a Special Education Checkup Card, which lists parents’ rights
in the education of handicapped children and provides a similar chart format
for parents to use. Please contact us at www.parentsmart.com
to request this helpful tool. Conference Follow-up If there are
issues or problem areas which arise during the fall conference, it would be
wise to schedule an end-of-the-year conference to review your child’s
progress. At this meeting you might ask
if the teacher has suggestions for summer activities such as summer school,
remedial help, or home learning activities.
The child’s class, grade, and teacher assignments for next year may also
be discussed at this time. Annual Review of School Records You have the
right to review all of your child’s school records and challenge any entry you
believe to be inaccurate or unfair.
This right is guaranteed by federal law (the Family and Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974). Local
schools are required to provide you with a list of all of the records kept on
your child and to inform you of the procedures for reviewing and challenging
them. If you are not familiar with your
school’s policies, ask. Many school
systems require that you make your request in writing to the school
principal. The school must respond to
your written or verbal request within 45 days, although many school systems
have shorter time limits. Use the
checklist on the following page when you review your child’s school records. Most of you will
find that your questions have been answered and that the records are in good
order. If you have found any part of
your child’s record to be an invasion of family privacy, inaccurate,
misleading, irrelevant, outdated, or otherwise harmful to your child, you
should submit your objection in writing to the school principal asking that it
be removed or revised. If your request
is refused, you may request a hearing with an impartial hearing officer. If you lose this appeal, you have the right
to enter your own statement as part of the permanent record. Have
I received satisfactory answers to questions about the location and contents of
my child’s school records:
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