Skip to main content

Arizona Department of Education Facebook Page

Arizona Department of Education LinkedIn Page

Arizona Department of Education Instagram

Arizona Department of Education Twitter

Arizona Department of Education YouTube

mobile menu
Arizona Department of Education Homepage
  • Home
  • Parents
    • Parents & Families
    • Arizona Purple Star School Program
    • Early Childhood & Preschool
    • Empowerment Scholarship Account
    • Military Career Information
    • School Report Cards
    • Transcripts & Test Scores
    • U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program
  • Educators & Administrators
    • Academic Standards
    • Accountability
    • Assessment
    • Business & Finance >
      • School Finance
      • State & Federal Grants
      • School Safety
    • Certification & Leadership >
      • Certification & Career
      • Educator Recruitment & Retention
      • Effective Teachers & Leaders (Trainings)
      • Training & Professional Development
    • Post-Secondary Resources
    • Support & Improvement >
      • School Improvement
      • School Support
  • Programs
    • Academic Achievement >
      • Academic Achievement
      • Afterschool & 21st Century Learning Centers
      • Character Education
      • English Learners | OELAS & Migrant Education Program
      • Homeless, Foster Care, & Refugee Programs
      • Title I
    • Adult Education
    • Arizona Purple Star School Program
    • Career & Technical Education
    • Educator Leadership >
      • Charter School Program
      • Effective Teachers & Leaders
      • School Safety
      • School Safety Program
    • Gifted/Advanced Learning >
      • Gifted/Advanced Learning
      • College Credit by Examination
      • Dual Enrollment
      • Gifted Education
    • Health & Nutrition Services
    • Office of Indian Education
    • Special Education
  • About ADE
    • About the Department
    • Accounting & Procurement
    • Data Governance
    • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Information Technology
    • News Releases
    • State Board of Education
    • State Board for Charter Schools
    • Submit a Complaint
  • Data & Systems
    • ADEL (Arizona Digital Educators Library)
    • APLD (Professional Learning and Development)
    • Public Educator Search
    • School & Student Data
    • School Report Cards
    • Teacher Input Application (TIA)
  • ADEConnect
    • ADEConnect
    • Common Logon
  • Search
  • Home
  • Special Education
  • Practical Suggestions: PWN

Practical Suggestions: PWN

Include the Date

Often the prior written notice (PWN) form will have a date at the top when it is provided to the parent, but the date of the decision referenced in the PWN is often not included, leading to possible confusion.

Suggestion: Include in the wording of the PWN the date of the meeting when the decision to propose or refuse the action actually occurred, as the date when the PWN was written is not always the same as the date of the meeting when the decision took place.

It’s More Than Checking Off the Boxes

Although the use of PWN templates, drop-down menus and check-off boxes on PWNs is not prohibited by the regulations that implement the IDEA, the sole reliance on these can lead to misunderstandings and can damage relationships with parents. Often a PWN will only say that the school proposes to implement an IEP. This is problematic when the decision was to stop providing paraprofessional support, reduce speech services from 60 minutes/week to 30 minutes/month, or to remove accommodations.

Suggestion: If your school uses drop-down menus or PWN templates, supplement the information with specific details to ensure that the school is clearly communicating with parents, particularly when a service is added, removed or changed.

Avoid Nonsense Phrases

Often a prior written notice (PWN) will state that the school considered but then rejected not having an IEP meeting, not considering a parent’s suggestion, or not conducting the required three-year evaluation process. The PWN will then go on to state that such notions were rejected because these are required steps. It makes the school look silly to suggest that it seriously considered rejecting a requirement.

Suggestion: Take time when constructing a PWN so that it is clear and that all statements actually make sense and incorporate the actual thinking of the parties and any decisions that were made.

  • ESS Home
    • About ESS
    • FAQ
    • Contact ESS
    • ESS Site Index
    • Understanding Special Education
    • Disability Categories
  • ESS Blog Updates
  • Special Ed Info for Schools
  • Parents & Families
    • Procedural Safeguards
    • Aviso de las Salvaguardias Procesales
    • Raising Special Kids
  • Conferences
    • IDEA Conference
    • Calendar of Events
  • Public Info
    • SEAP
    • SSIP
    • SPP/APR and Public Data
    • PEA Determinations
    • Significant Disproportionality
  • Quick Links
  • Assessment
  • Assistive Technology
  • AZ FIND/Child Find
  • AZ-TAS Documents
  • Data Management
    • AzEDS SPED Reporting
    • Beginner's Guide
    • Important Dates
    • October 1 Data Collection
    • Special Education Data Dashboard
    • Special Education Data Updates
  • Dispute Resolution
    • Quick Links
    • Dispute Resolution Forms
    • Mediation
    • State Complaint
    • Due Process
    • Facilitated IEP
    • Facilitated IEP Training
    • Resources
    • Laws, Regulations, and Guidance
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Secondary Transition
  • Private & Public Programs
    • Private Special Education Schools
    • ED-P Programs
    • Residential Treatment Center Placement
    • Head Starts
    • State Institutions
Contact
  • ESS Reception Desk
  • (602) 542-4013
  • [email protected]
  • Contact the Department
  • Public Comment
  • About Us
  • Locations
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • School Report Cards
  • State Board of Education
  • State Board for Charter Schools
  • Web Accessibility

© 2025 Arizona Department of Education

  • Statewide Policies
  • Site Map