Why are Prior Written Notices Called “Prior” if They Come After IEP Proposals?

Many Parents Understandably Wonder: If Changes are Discussed and Proposed During IEP Meetings, Why Does the "Prior" Written Notice Come After?

Question: A Prior Written Notice is provided after changes are proposed during IEP meetings—and after schools propose finalized IEPs—so why is “prior” a part of its name?

Answer: Many parents understandably wonder: If changes are discussed and proposed during the IEP meeting, why does the "prior" written notice come after?

IDEA’s language at 34 C.F.R. § 300.503 adds to the confusion, because it states, that a PWN must be provided before the school “proposes to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of FAPE”