7. Organizing an Education Notebook
If you organize your student’s school records into an “education notebook,” you can spend your time thinking about more important things than where a particular piece of paper might be. Create the notebook as soon as possible. It will help to have everything in one place as you prepare for meetings with school officials or a hearing. The more comfortable using it, the easier it will be for you to be prepared.
Start by dividing the records into piles
Take all of the records and group together similar items in different piles. Divide them into logical groups. Example:
- Attendance records
- Discipline records
- Medical records
- Notes from teachers
- IEP
This is not a complete list, just some suggestions. You need to look carefully at what kinds of records you have, and what groupings will make the most sense.
You can divide some into smaller subgroups.
- Discipline records
- Notes from teachers
- Reports to the principal
- Suspension notices
- Statement of victim of assault
- Police report
Use a three-ring binder
A notebook is better than a file because all the papers are held in place. It just means you will avoid the disaster of papers flying everywhere if you drop your stuff. A binder also allows you to move papers easily from one section to another.
Make dividers for each section of the notebook
Make dividers to put between sections. You can use something simple like different colored pieces of paper, but dividers with tabs sticking out are easiest to use. Label each section so you can quickly see what is in it.
If involved in a hearing, your notebook should contain:
- Notes of conversations and meetings you have had on this issue.
- A summary of the case.
- An outline/summary of the facts.
- An outline/summary of laws or policies.
- List of records you want the hearing examiner or judge to review.