One of the most important things we can do for our children who are receiving or are in need of special education support is to maintain an organized and thorough record of their journey through the process. Whether your child has been receiving special education services for many years or you are just starting down that path, you have likely noticed that there is a lot of paperwork! Today’s blog is designed to provide you with some helpful tips as to what you should be keeping and how.

Before I get into the what and the how, I feel it is important to tell you the why. Simply put, your child’s educational paper trail is your “evidence” in this process. In an ideal world, the school team would take you at your word. You are the parent, the foremost expert on your child and what she/he/they may need. Unfortunately, the system does not work that way. You must have proof. And that is what your child’s educational record can do for you. In maintaining and organizing your child’s paperwork, think of it as the exhibit A, B and C you will need in case you ever get to the point of due process. However, with a record keeping system that allows you to easily access the evaluation, classwork, report, etc. you need as evidence at the team meeting level, you can potentially avoid due process.