Letters

Writing letters is an important part of communication. As your son or daughter goes through school, you may have many occasions to write a letter. In advocating for your child's needs, it is important to be able to write in a way that is effective and to the point.

When you communicate your thoughts, ideas, and concerns, you define your child's needs. When you emphasize the positive aspects of your child's education, you develop a good working relationship with the professionals in your child's life. When you convey "what works" rather than spending time and energy on what doesn't work, you become a stronger advocate for your child. When you need to state concerns or problems in writing, do so in a factual, non-emotional, and businesslike way; this will ultimately help you get the results you want for your child.

A variety of sample letters are available on these pages that you may copy and change to fit your needs.

Note: The "cc:" at the bottom of the letter means you are sending a copy of your letter to the people listed after the cc. If you write to the Director of Special Education about a problem at your child's school, you should copy the principal. If you write to the principal about a problem, you should copy your child's teacher or other staff involved with your child. This follows the "chain of command." It also lets people involved know your concerns and that you are taking steps to resolve these concerns.

Always keep a copy of your letter for your own files.