What is prior written notice (PWN)?
Common questions
When should the school give me prior written notice?
You should receive prior written notice a reasonable time before the district acts on a proposal or refusal, so you have time to respond before the change takes effect. It is required any time the school proposes or refuses to start, change, or stop your child's evaluation, placement, or services.
What must prior written notice include?
Prior written notice must describe the action the school proposes or refuses, explain why, and list the evaluations, records, or reports used to reach the decision. It must also describe the options the team considered and rejected, point you to your procedural safeguards, and tell you where to get help understanding them.
Why does prior written notice matter?
Prior written notice matters because it forces the district to commit its reasoning to paper. Verbal promises and vague explanations disappear; a written notice does not. If you ever challenge a decision, the PWN is often the single most useful document in the file, which is why advocates track it closely.
What is the difference between prior written notice and a meeting notice?
A meeting notice invites you to an IEP meeting and tells you when, where, and who will attend. Prior written notice is different: it documents a decision the school has proposed or refused. One gets you to the table; the other records what the district decided once you were there.
Got a PWN that does not add up?
Send us the notice before your next meeting. Alan reviews it and builds your response.