Stay Put / Pendency Rights
What it means, what record to check, and what to ask next.
What Stay Put means in the school record
Stay Put means Stay Put / Pendency Rights. In an IEP conversation, the practical question is what decision, service, support, or record this term affects for your child.
'Stay Put' (also called pendency) is an IDEA rule that may maintain a child's then-current educational placement during certain due process proceedings unless the parent and public agency agree otherwise or another exception applies.
Why it matters
Stay Put can be important when placement or services are disputed, but it is procedure-specific and fact-specific. Get qualified local help before relying on it.
What to do when you see Stay Put
Use this when a formal dispute or appeal may affect the services or placement your child receives while the dispute is pending.
Check This Record
- Identify the last agreed-upon placement and services.
- Collect the proposed change, dispute filing, agreement, or hearing paperwork.
- Ask qualified local help how stay-put applies before relying on it.
Red Flags
- The school changes services or placement while a dispute is pending without explaining the basis.
- The family is unsure which plan was last agreed upon.
- Deadlines or hearing rules are involved and no local legal guidance has been sought.
Documents to Gather
- Current IEP
- Proposed IEP/change notice
- Due process or complaint papers
- PWN
- Placement/service records
Sample Finding
The proposed IEP reduces placement support, but the family has not agreed and a formal dispute may affect what remains in place.
What to Write
"Please identify the current agreed-upon placement and services and explain in writing what the district believes remains in effect while this dispute is pending."
Who to Contact
Start with the case manager or IEP coordinator. If the term affects a 504 plan, copy the 504 coordinator; if it affects records, copy the records contact.
When to Get Local Help
Get qualified local help if this term affects discipline, safety, placement, graduation, evaluation refusal, service loss, complaint or due-process deadlines, or a state-specific timeline.
Privacy Note
Share only the IEP pages, evaluations, progress data, service logs, or school records needed for this question. Avoid broad medical history, extra student identifiers, or unrelated records when you ask for help.
Source check
This page is educational information, not legal advice. Rules, timelines, and procedures can vary by state, district, dispute posture, and the individual school record.