Steps for Maryland Parents to Request an In-School Observation for Your Child
Insights from Washington Insight Solutions | Gaithersburg and Rockville, Maryland
If you are worried about how your child is doing at school, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Many parents notice struggles at home that do not seem to show up in school reports. Your child may appear exhausted after school, emotionally overwhelmed, resistant to homework, or anxious about the next day, while teachers report few concerns. This disconnect can leave parents feeling uncertain about what is really happening during the school day.
An in-school observation can help bridge that gap by providing a clearer picture of how your child functions in the classroom and other school settings. For families across Maryland, and especially those in Montgomery County, requesting an in-school observation is a reasonable and appropriate step when concerns arise. Understanding how your child navigates academic demands, social interactions, and expectations at school can be an important foundation for meaningful support. Below are clear, parent-friendly steps to help you request an in-school observation with confidence and clarity.
Step 1: Understand What an In-School Observation Can and Cannot Do
An in-school observation involves a trained professional observing your child during the school day, typically in the classroom and sometimes in other settings such as transitions or unstructured times. The purpose of the observation is to gather information about how your child attends to instruction, responds to expectations, interacts with peers, and manages emotional or behavioral demands in real time.
Observations often provide insight into attention and engagement during lessons, behavioral patterns, emotional responses, social interactions, and how a child manages routines or transitions. While this information can be very helpful, it is important to understand that an observation alone does not provide a diagnosis. Instead, it serves as one piece of a larger picture and helps explain what may be happening during the school day.
Step 2: Reflect on What You Are Seeing at Home
Before contacting the school, it is helpful to take time to reflect on your concerns. Many parents find that putting their thoughts into words makes conversations with the school more productive and focused. Consider what behaviors worry you most, when those challenges tend to occur, and whether anything has changed recently at home or school. You may also want to think about what you hope the observation will clarify. Having this clarity allows you to communicate your concerns more effectively and helps the school understand why an observation feels important.
Step 3: Put Your Request in Writing Using Simple, Clear Language
In Maryland, it is best to submit your request for an in-school observation in writing. This does not need to be formal or legal in tone. A clear, respectful message is sufficient and often more effective. Your written request should include your child’s name and grade, a brief description of your concerns, a direct request for an in-school observation, and a request for written feedback following the observation. Writing helps keep communication clear, provides documentation, and ensures everyone is working from the same information.
Step 4: Know Who to Send the Request To
Requests for in-school observations can be sent to several people within the school. Parents often start by contacting their child’s classroom teacher, but it is also appropriate to include the school principal, special education coordinator, or the IEP or 504 team chair if one is already involved. If you are unsure who the best contact is, sending the request to the teacher and copying an administrator is often a helpful approach. This keeps communication transparent and ensures the request reaches the appropriate team members.
Step 5: Ask What the Observation Will Look Like
It is reasonable to ask questions about how the observation will be conducted. Understanding the process helps set realistic expectations and ensures the observation captures meaningful information. You may want to ask who will conduct the observation, how long it will last, which settings will be observed, and whether transitions or unstructured times will be included. Clarifying these details can help you better understand what the observation will and will not capture.
Step 6: Request Written Feedback After the Observation
Written feedback following the observation is an important part of the process. A written summary allows you to carefully review what was observed and refer back to it later, especially during planning meetings or follow-up conversations.
Observation summaries typically include the date and time of the observation, the classroom or setting, descriptions of academic engagement and behavior, social interactions, and both strengths and areas of concern. Written observations are particularly useful for IEP or 504 discussions because they provide concrete examples rather than general impressions.
Step 7: Review the Results Thoughtfully
When you receive the observation summary, give yourself time to review it carefully. Parents often find it helpful to read it more than once and reflect on how it aligns with what they see at home. As you review the information, consider whether patterns stand out, whether the observations match your concerns, and whether there are areas that feel unclear or incomplete. If something does not make sense or raises additional questions, it is appropriate to ask for clarification or further discussion.
Step 8: Use the Observation to Guide Next Steps
An in-school observation can be a valuable tool for guiding next steps. The information gathered may help inform classroom accommodations, behavioral or emotional supports, IEP or 504 planning, or decisions about further evaluation.
In some cases, the observation helps determine whether additional support outside of school may be beneficial, particularly if concerns appear across multiple settings. Even when the observation does not reveal major challenges, it can still provide reassurance and help clarify how your child functions during the school day.
Common Questions Parents Have About In-School Observations
Can I request an observation even if my child does not have an IEP?
Yes. Parents can request observations based on concerns about learning, behavior, or emotional functioning, even if an IEP or 504 plan is not in place.
Can I observe my child myself?
Most schools limit parent observations due to privacy and classroom disruption concerns. Professional observations are typically preferred for evaluation and planning purposes.
What if the school says an observation is not needed?
You can ask for the reasoning in writing and discuss alternative ways your concerns can be evaluated. Some families also pursue private evaluations for additional insight.
How do private psychological evaluations use school observations?
Private evaluations often integrate school observations, teacher input, and testing data to provide a more complete understanding of a child’s needs.
Support for Maryland Parents Navigating School Concerns
At Washington Insight Solutions, we support families throughout Montgomery County, Maryland. Our comprehensive psychological assessments help parents better understand their child’s learning, emotional, and behavioral needs, often in collaboration with schools.
