In which situation is a Prior Written Notice required?

• A. The School Changes Placement or Services as Part of the IEP
• B. The School Changes a Bus Route
• C. The School Updates the Attendance Policy
• D. The School Adds a New Extracurricular Activity

Answer: (A)

Prior Written Notice is required whenever the school proposes or refuses to initiate or change a student's identification, evaluation, or educational placement or the services provided. Changing placement or services as part of the IEP is exactly the kind of action that must be explained in a PWN, because it directly affects what the student will receive and where they will receive it. The notice should clearly describe the proposed or refused action, the reasons and data supporting it, the options considered, and the procedural safeguards available, and it must be provided in writing and in the family's preferred language or mode of communication. Other changes like a bus route, an attendance policy update, or adding a new extracurricular activity do not automatically trigger a PWN unless they impact the student’s IEP placement or services.