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The Easy, Ultimate Procedural Safeguard

The problem with special education procedural safeguards is that they only work if you use them.

So, the true ultimate procedural safeguard is to actually force the school district (or whomever) to ACTUALLY FOLLOW procedures… because if they don’t (and you accept it)… you and your child have no protection.

(A recent example) A mom asked for help… her child had allergies and wanted support via a 504 plan… the school official VERBALLY refused…

There “verbal refusals” happen too often.

They work if you let them work.

If someone says “The Sky is Green”… and you accept it… you’re done.

Sometimes schools try to dodge their responsibility and sometimes the individuals just don’t know the rules or even are in a hurry or having a bad day…

There is a countermeasure – the Ultimate Procedural Safeguard..

My lame name for this tool is “Reverse Minutes” (suggestions welcome)

Reverse Minutes

Reverse minutes is kind of a silly name except it describes what to do (and I hope you DO do it).

It is pretty simple… you take something (anything) that someone says (that is odd or sounds incorrect or just bothers. you)… and you document it back to them as an email…

Why it works:

  1. It gives them a chance to reconsider what they said, and dial it back if they actually misspoke.
  2. It slows things down and gives them a chance to check with more senior staff… or even a lawyer.
  3. They may confirm what they said verbally.

Regardless, if you ask and insist on a response, you’ve turned a non-event into something that is part of the “official record” if anything further happens.

And you’ve done it politely.

___________________

Email Template

NAME OF PERSON –

It was great talking to you DATE (YESTERDAY, DAY AND TIME).

I wanted to confirm something that I thought I heard:

(NOTE – THIS GIVES THEM AN OUT TO SAY YOU MISUNDERSTOOD THEM AND CLARIFY WITHOUT BEING NEGATIVE)

WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU HEARD (not word for word, but the key gist of what they said).

OPTIONAL QUESTION – DOES THIS MEAN…. Whatever you are concerned that you think this means?

I just want to confirm that this is official policy of YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT OR OTHER ORGANIZATION.

Thank you.

YOUR SIGNATURE

___________________

NOTE – you don’t need to do homework in advance to verify whether you think this policy is wrong right or whatever you just simply are asking a question… let them do the homework and respond in writing (don’t second guess yourself).

This can also be done to document an incident that you saw or something that was reported to you by someone else.

“Reverse Minutes” simply bring an incident or discussion or decision into the system of procedural protections. There is nothing aggressive or malicious about it and nothing to be afraid of.

Just ask a question in writing.

It is worth knowing if the sky is actually green.

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