Sample Letter Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Compensatory Education Services
Case Manager
School/School District
Town, Vermont
Date
Dear [Name of Case Manager]:
I am writing to request an IEP meeting to discuss the provision of compensatory education services to
my child, _____________________, to make up for the missed special education and related services
they experienced when schools were closed due to the Coronavirus.
My child was out of school and was not receiving their complete special education and related services
from ______ [start date] through _______ [end date – last day of school your child would have attended
if school had been open.] My child received no special education services from _____ [start date]
through________ [end date], and only partial special education services from ____ [start date] through
________[end date.] My child received no related services from ______ [start date] through _____ [end
date] and only partial related services from ______ [start date] through ______ [end date.]
Service in IEP
Dates without
any service
Partial service
delivered
Dates of partial
service
Missed services
The US Department of Education has issued guidance indicating that the IEP team must meet to
determine whether the lack of special education and related services requires the provision of
compensatory education. “Schools must consider the impact of a provider’s absence or a child’s
absence on the child’s program and performance and determine how to ensure the continued provision
of FAPE [a free, appropriate public education] in order for the child to continue to progress and meet
the annual goals in his or her IEP. Whether an interruption in services constitutes a denial of FAPE is an
individual determination that must be made on a case-by-case basis.” See
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/letters/2007-1/clarke030807disability1q2007.pdf. This
guidance was reinforced in guidance from the US Department of Education issued in March, 2020, at
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf.
I sincerely appreciate your efforts to provide some of my child’s special education and related services
during the difficult period when schools were closed. However, the [lack of provision of any special
education or related services] [failure to provide all of the special education and related services]
contained in my child’s IEP has led to a failure of my child to achieve their IEP goals and objectives [and
in fact caused regression in their knowledge and skills.] For these reasons, I am requesting an IEP
meeting to discuss the compensatory services my child needs and will receive in the new school year.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Name of Parent/Guardian
Contact information (address, phone and email)
CC: *List any other persons who were copied on this letter such as other school administrators, etc...
Sample Completed Letter Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Compensatory Education Services
Dear Ms. Jones:
I am writing to request an IEP meeting to discuss the provision of compensatory education services to
my child, Anita Smith, to make up for the missed special education and related services they
experienced when schools were closed due to the Coronavirus.
My child was out of school and was not receiving her complete special education and related services
from March 16
th
through the last day of school she would have attended if school have been open, June
24
th
. My child received no special education services from March 16
th
through April 3
rd
, and only partial
special education services from April 6
th
through June 24
th
. My child received no related services from
March 16
th
through April 3
rd
, and only partial related services from April 3
rd
through June 24
th
.
Service in IEP
Dates without
any service
Partial service
delivered
Dates of partial
service
Missed services
Specialized
instruction –
reading 1 hr/day
3/16-4/3
15 days/15 hours
of no service
Specialized
instruction-
Reading 2 hrs/wk
4/6-6/24
8.5 weeks of only
2 hrs/week
15 hours + 25.5
hours = 40.5
hours
Speech services: 1
hour 3 x/week
3/16-4/3 (3 wks.)
9 hours no service
Speech services: 1
hour 1x/week
4/6-6/24
8.5 weeks of only
1x/week speech
9 hours + 17
hours = 26 hours
Physical therapy-
1 hour x 3x/week
3/16-4/3 (3 wks)
9 hours no service
PT: 1 hour
1x/week
4/6-6/24
8.5 weeks of only
1x/week PTI
9 hours + 17
hours = 26 hours
The US Department of Education has issued guidance indicating that the IEP team must meet to
determine whether the lack of special education and related services requires the provision of
compensatory education. “Schools must consider the impact of a provider’s absence or a child’s
absence on the child’s program and performance and determine how to ensure the continued provision
of FAPE [a free, appropriate public education] in order for the child to continue to progress and meet
the annual goals in his or her IEP. Whether an interruption in services constitutes a denial of FAP is an
individual determination that must be made on a case-by-case basis.” See
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/letters/2007-1/clarke030807disability1q2007.pdf. This
guidance was reinforced in guidance from the US Department of Education issued in March, 2020, at
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf.
I sincerely appreciate your efforts to provide some of the special education and related services in my
child’s IEP during the difficult period when schools were closed. However, the failure to provide all of
the special education and related services contained in my child’s IEP has led to a failure of my child to
achieve their IEP goals and objectives and in fact caused regression in their knowledge and skills. For
these reasons, I am requesting an IEP meeting to discuss the compensatory services my child needs and
will receive in the new school year.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Ms. Smith
Ms.smith@aol.com; xxx-xxx-xxxx (cell phone)
