Under federal law, school districts must give written notice to parents when which event occurs?

• A. A change is proposed to the student's IEP.
• B. The student is failing to make progress in one or more academic subjects.
• C. The student is frequently late to class and spends too much time at a locker.
• D. Alternative assessments are used to evaluate the student's academic performance.

Answer: (A)

Written notice is required when a proposed change to a student’s individualized education program (IEP) is on the table. This is part of IDEA's protections, making sure parents receive clear, written information about what changes are being considered, why they’re being proposed, what data support them, and what options exist. The goal is to involve parents in decisions about identification, evaluation, placement, or services for their child. In this scenario, the event that calls for that written notice is a proposed change to the IEP because it directly affects the services or placement the student would receive. Progress concerns, being late to class, or using alternative assessments by themselves don’t automatically trigger the written-notice requirement unless they are part of a proposed change to the IEP or another related decision.