Starting the New School Year Off Right with an Introduction Letter or Email

Ready or not!  In some parts of the country, the new school year has already begun. And if you are here in New England (like we are), the first day is right around the corner. And as usual, the new school year brings with it excitement and uncertainty (for children and their parents alike).

Hopefully you took some time to rest and recharge this Summer. And chances are, with the new year right around the corner you have started to think about your child’s needs, what worked for them last school year and what did not, and maybe even some changes you want to make (to their IEP or otherwise). Perhaps you left last school year feeling dissatisfied with your child’s progress or maybe you just want to get a jump start on the year!

The transition to the new school year can feel overwhelming and uncertain. There is so much to communicate to your child’s team and you may not have an IEP meeting on the radar for a few months. You may also be facing an entirely new school team and a new special education liaison. 

One way to ensure that you are able to communicate what you want to the team is by writing an introduction letter/email. This can be addressed to your child’s classroom teacher, their special education liaison, or their whole team. It is a great way to help set some goals for the school year and to share how your child’s summer went. It can also be helpful to open up the lines of communication (especially if that is something that was challenging in the past).

Here are some things you can include in a Back To School Email/Letter:

1. An Introduction.

   1. Who you are and your relationship to the child you are writing about.

2. What your child did this summer.

   • Did they pick up a new hobby?

   • Did they travel?

   • Did they attend Extended School Year or another camp or program?

   • Were there any big changes that might impact the transition?

3. Your child’s strengths/what works for them.

4. Your goals for this school year.

   • Do you want your child to try something new?

   • Are there parts of the IEP or your child’s programming you want reconsidered/edited?

   • Do you want your child more involved in their special education decision making?

5. Your preferred method of communication. This is a great opportunity to be specific!

   • “Please feel free to email me anytime. I usually can get back to you within the day”.

   • “Here is my cell phone number if you need anything during the day:...”

   • “I am usually pretty tied up during the day, but “X’s” other grown up/grandparent/babysitter/etc. is available at:...”

6. Seek information you want/need (but acknowledge it could take a few days).

   • Ask for the names of your child’s team members (SLP, OT, BCBA, etc).

   • Get clarification on timelines for the year

   • When is the IEP due?

   • Is there an evaluation that needs to be completed?

   • Are parent nights scheduled?

7. Anything else you feel is important to share to get the year started off right!

Some important notes:

1. You do not need to include everything in your introduction letter/email.This is just an opportunity to open the lines of communication. And it is more likely the professional on the other end will read it carefully and thoughtfully if it's not too long.

2. Wait a week or two to send this email/letter. The first couple of weeks can be incredibly challenging for everyone.  It is nice to let everyone get settled a bit before sending!

3. Of course, if something comes up that is urgent do not be afraid to open the lines a bit sooner.

Need help crafting a back to school email or setting some goals for this school year? Reach out and schedule a free 20 minute initial consultation.