I have read a few times that one should request to “review the school files”, even without a particular goal. They explain how to request this, suggest that one should make photo copies, etc…
What should one be looking for in these files?
(I am in the process of evaluation/IEP and may find something useful there??)
You should always have a copy of your school file. It can give you info such as how many times the teacher wrote up a concern,observation,or even testing that was done,that you might possibly not have knwon about. It will also allow for you to flip to a certain page to make a certain point during the IEP meeting.
With that being said,if for some reason things become adversarial,things that were there might not be there at a later date etc.Things that were worded one way,might not be worded the same way,for numerous reasons a full and complete copy of ed files is one very important piece when advocating for your child. Speaking of advocating,an advocate will find it essential to have a complete copy of your ed file in order to be helpful in your child’s educational needs.