Sample Letters: Writing a Positive Feedback Letter
By: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
Once you've begun to write letters, be sure to write when things are going well, too! If a teacher, therapist, or other staff member has made good things happen for your child, let them and their supervisors know. Everyone likes and needs compliments and encouragement from time to time. Positive feedback is what keeps good schools running well. Just as you want to know "how it's going," so does the school staff.
Good communication, team work, and effective schools take a lot of hard work. There's an old saying that goes, "Things can go wrong all by themselves, but you have to work hard to make things go right." This statement applies doubly to maintaining a successful parent-professional working relationship. Be sure your child's teacher(s), principal, and superintendent also hear from you when things are going right.
Sample Letter 13: Writing a positive feedback letter
Today's Date (include month, day, and year)
City, State, Zip Code
Daytime telephone number
Name of Person to Whom You Are Writing
City, State, Zip Code
I am writing to let you know how very pleased I am with the education my son/daughter, (child's name) is receiving at (name of school).
(Child's name) has had great success with (briefly say what is going right). In particular, (name the professionals working with your child and how they have made a difference).
I look forward to (child's name) continuing progress. Thank you for all your efforts, and those of your staff.
cc: If you write to the school district's Superintendent or Director of Special Education, make sure to copy the people who directly deserve recognition for your child's success - the principal, teachers, and other staff.
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Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). NICHCY Parent Guides are published in response to questions from individuals and organizations that contact us. We encourage you to share your ideas and feedback with us!
Publication of this document is made possible through a Cooperative Agreement between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Excerpted from Communication with Your Child's School Through Letters. National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. www.nichcy.org (2002). Washington, D.C.: Academy for Educational Development.