It may not be in the forefront of your thinking to periodically check your children’s school records, but it is a necessity. Schools keep records of their children to maintain all current information, and it can be a plethora, so it is vital to check every once in a while and make sure everything is accurate. The likelihood of there being any issues are most likely slim, but it is always a good idea to keep an eye on them.
Why Check Their Records?
It may be as simple as requesting a copy of your children’s records just to verify all their information is correct. It is recommended to check your children’s school records at least every school year, to make sure they have all the current information. Their school records can vary, and contain various tidbits of information, such as phone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts, and school/learning information.
If your child also has other conditions going on, it is even more important to double check their school records to ensure accuracy. If your child is autistic or has another learning disadvantage, this should be noted on their records. If your child is allergic to certain foods or medicines, this should be noted on their records to ensure that they don’t come into contact with these foods or items while at school. These tidbits can get overlooked, so it is always important to make sure these get checked regularly throughout your children’s school years to make sure they are safe.
Transfers
You may even want to transfer your children to a different school, or even start homeschooling. Their school records may have a watered down version of the schoolwork they have completed, or a more in-depth record, including subjects taken and even their teacher’s names. They should also have grades recorded for each subject too. If you are looking into different schools, you may need to request your children’s records in order for the new school to approve their application.
Requesting Records
Asking for your children’s school records should be an easy task. You can stop over at the administration offices and ask, to which they may have a paper form for you to fill out, requesting the records. If they don’t have a specific form to fill out, you may need to type up a quick letter requesting the records instead. The school may even be able to print them off same day, but for bigger schools, they may have to process the request and get back to you. It may sound like a pain, but it will definitely be worth it to verify your children’s information!
Katie Kyzivat