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Letter 30: Request for a Manifestation Determination Review

When to Use It

Send this letter the day you learn your child faces a disciplinary removal that changes placement - or the day after. A removal changes placement when it runs more than 10 school days in a row, or when a series of removals adds up to more than 10 school days this school year and forms a pattern (34 C.F.R. § 300.536; Tool 62). That kind of removal triggers a manifestation determination review - the MDR - which must occur within 10 school days of the decision to change your child’s placement (34 C.F.R. § 300.530(e); Tool 64).

The team must answer two questions (34 C.F.R. § 300.530(e)(1); Tool 65). Was the conduct caused by, or directly and substantially related to, the disability? Was it the direct result of the district’s failure to implement the IEP? This letter locks in the deadline and gets you the records before the meeting, not at it. If your child has no IEP yet but the district knew a disability was suspected, these protections may still apply (34 C.F.R. § 300.534).

Send it to: the principal and the director of special education, the same day if you can.