What to do before you send this letter
A strong letter is short because the record does the heavy lifting. Pull the right page, ask one answerable question, and save proof of delivery.
Find the record
Incident reports, discipline records, teacher emails, attendance or removal logs, and parent notes.
Name one answer you need
Name the behaviors and settings you want assessed.
Use the template below
Customize the letter with dates, the specific IEP section, and the narrow request before adding extra background.
Review the IEP section first
Use the free IEP review to identify the page, weak wording, or missing record worth referencing in the letter.
"I've sat at over 500 IEP tables."
I'm Mary, a former special education teacher and administrator, a Special Education Advocate, and co-founder of The Advocate Ally with my son, Graham. I left the system to help families directly. I created this special education resource because too many parents feel pressured to accept generic, "cookie-cutter" IEPs.
The guidance below is grounded in the same practical, document-based questions I raise in IEP meetings every day. Use it to ask for clearer, more individualized support for your child.
Mary
Co-founder, The Advocate Ally
Before you send anything: Ground the request in the written record. If you have time, review the IEP section first. If this is urgent, send the narrow written request and save proof of delivery.
Use the letter as a clear request, not a legal threat
Copy the template, replace bracketed details, send it to the teacher, case manager, principal, special education contact, or district office that handles the issue, and save a copy. If the school responds, misses the point, or does not respond, keep that reply with your records before choosing the next step.
Important guardrail
This template is educational information, not legal advice. do not imply a diagnosis automatically requires an IEP, service, or school-funded outside evaluation. State rules, forms, timelines, and dispute procedures can vary, so verify current local procedures for urgent or high-stakes decisions.
- Step 1Copy the letter below.
- Step 2Replace bracketed details.
- Step 3Send it to the right school contact.
- Step 4Save the sent copy and attachments.
- Step 5Follow up in writing if needed.
Legal Basis
34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(i) — The IEP team should review positive behavioral interventions when behavior impedes learning.
Before You Send This Letter
The strongest parent letters are calm, specific, and easy to answer. Use the template, but attach only the records that support this request.
Write down the behaviors, settings, triggers if known, and school responses before asking for an FBA.
Connect the behaviors to learning, safety, removals, participation, or access.
Ask whether an IEP meeting is needed to review behavior supports.
Evidence to Attach
- Incident reports, discipline records, teacher emails, attendance or removal logs, and parent notes.
- Current IEP behavior supports or BIP if one exists.
- Outside provider notes that explain behavior needs, if available.
Keep It Narrow
- Name the behaviors and settings you want assessed.
- Ask what data the school will collect.
- Ask for positive support planning rather than only consequences.
What Not to Say
Avoid: Accusations about why the school made the decision.
Try: Ask what data, records, or team discussion supports the decision.
Avoid: A request that tries to solve every school concern at once.
Try: Separate unrelated issues into short numbered requests or separate emails.
Avoid: My child is just being punished for disability-related behavior.
Try: Please evaluate the behavior pattern and whether positive behavioral supports are needed.
Use This Letter When
Use this when the parent needs evaluation data, suspected areas, or outside recommendations reviewed. First pull evaluation request, current IEP, prior reports, progress data, teacher concerns, outside recommendations, and school response.
Use the right letter
- Use this template when the parent needs evaluation data, suspected areas, or outside recommendations reviewed.
- Use a dispute guide first if you still need to decide whether to request records, a meeting, PWN, complaint, or local help.
- Use an IEP audit/checker first if you cannot yet identify the weak IEP page, missing data, or unclear wording.
- Keep the letter narrow: state the suspected areas or evaluation disagreement and ask for consent forms, review, or a written refusal.
What to Check
- Pull evaluation request, current IEP, prior reports, progress data, teacher concerns, outside recommendations, and school response.
- Write down the date range, IEP section, school response, and one missing answer.
- Use the letter to state the suspected areas or evaluation disagreement and ask for consent forms, review, or a written refusal.
Red Flags
- The request relies on a verbal conversation but not the written record.
- The letter asks for a broad remedy before naming the IEP page, date range, or data source.
- The issue may affect services, evaluation, placement, discipline, safety, records, or complaint rights.
- The parent is about to send extra private information that is not needed for this request.
Documents to Gather
- Incident reports, discipline records, teacher emails, attendance or removal logs, and parent notes.
- Current IEP behavior supports or BIP if one exists.
- Outside provider notes that explain behavior needs, if available.
Sample Finding
The record raises a real concern about evaluation and data request, but it does not yet show the specific page, date, data source, and written school response needed for the team to answer safely.
Parent-Safe Sentence
"Please review evaluation request, current IEP, prior reports, progress data, teacher concerns, outside recommendations, and school response and confirm in writing how the team will state the suspected areas or evaluation disagreement and ask for consent forms, review, or a written refusal."
The Letter Template
Copy & Customize
Dear [Special Education Director/Principal], I am writing to formally request a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) for my child, [Child's Full Name], currently in [Grade] at [School Name]. My child is exhibiting the following behaviors at school: • [Behavior 1 — e.g., "Leaving the classroom without permission (elopement)"] • [Behavior 2 — e.g., "Verbal outbursts during transitions"] • [Behavior 3 — e.g., "Physical aggression toward peers during unstructured time"] These behaviors are impacting my child's ability to learn and the learning of others. I believe a Functional Behavior Assessment is necessary to identify the function (purpose) of these behaviors so that an effective Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) can be developed. I understand the school has [state timeline] to respond to this request and to either proceed with the FBA or issue a Prior Written Notice (PWN) explaining why the FBA is not warranted. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Date]
Pro Tips for Using This Letter
An FBA looks at the antecedent (trigger), behavior, and consequence to understand the behavior pattern.
Without an FBA, a BIP may lack the data needed to explain why behavior is happening.
If the school already has a BIP but no FBA, ask whether the plan has enough data support.
You can request an independent FBA if you disagree with the school's results.
What Happens After You Send This Letter
Save a copy of the letter and the delivery confirmation (email receipt or certified mail tracking). This is your evidence trail.
Mark your calendar for the response timeline that applies to this request in your state. If you do not hear back, send a written follow-up referencing the original date.
If they schedule a meeting in response, prepare just like you would for any IEP meeting. Bring a support person and ask for time to review anything you do not understand.
If they refuse or propose a change covered by Prior Written Notice, ask for the notice in writing so the decision and reasons are documented.
Upload your IEP for a free audit before the meeting. The review can flag written gaps and weak language worth discussing.
Not Sure What to Ask For?
A letter is stronger when it points to the written record. Upload your IEP to flag document sections worth referencing and questions worth raising.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send this fBA Request letter by email?
Who should I send a FBA Request letter template to?
What should I attach to this fBA Request request?
What if the school does not respond?
Do I need a lawyer to send this letter?
Audit your IEP before sending this letter
Find documented concerns first, then reference the relevant sections in your letter.
Review My IEP