Classroom Observations

Observations in Connection with an Independent Educational Evaluation 

A qualified individual who has been identified and approved by the Office of Special Education may, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its federal and Virginia state implementing regulations, observe a classroom as part of an Independent Educational Evaluation (“IEE”).  

The parent must submit a Request for Classroom Observation Application as specified in Section II below and also must supply a signed release for the individual to observe the classroom. The individual who will be observing as part of an IEE must be qualified in the same subject area as the evaluator who conducted the underlying evaluation. 

If an observation is granted, the individual is subject to the same rules and procedures as those applicable to the parent. The observation cannot exceed the length of time utilized by the original evaluator.  Only one individual can observe at a time and an administrator or designee, at his/her discretion, may be present during any observation. Like parents, the individual observing the classroom shall be mindful of confidentiality of the students in the class and shall not discuss other students during or after the observation. 

Request for Observation Application Process

All requests for observation must be made in writing to the building principal or designee at least five (5) school days before the requested observation date. If a teacher or another school staff receives the written request, the teacher/staff shall be responsible for forwarding the request directly to the principal or designee.

A parent or guardian may use the Request for Observation Application form (included as part of this document as Appendix A) or submit the request in any other written format, so long as the request contains the following information: 

• The student’s name; 
• The parent(s)/guardian(s)’s name; 
• If the request is made for an IEE observation, then the application must also include the name of the observer as well as his/her qualifications; 
• The requested date of the observation; and
• The reason for the observation. 

Application Evaluation Criteria

 
All requests for observation shall be made in writing and shall be submitted at least five (5) school days in advance of the observation date. If the request is received after 4 p.m., then it shall be considered to be submitted the following school day (e.g., if a request is received at 4:01 p.m. on Friday, then the request shall be considered submitted on the following Monday).

The building principal or designee shall evaluate the request for observation based upon the following criteria: 

• The number of time(s) the parent/guardian has observed during the current school year; 
• The reason for the request and whether the request will enhance the education of the student; 
• Whether the request meets the requirements set forth in Section I; 
• Whether the observation will lead to the disruption of the classroom or school setting (in so doing, the building principal or designee may seek input from the classroom teacher); and 
• Whether the request sets forth all of the elements of the application process as set forth in Section II above. 

The building principal or designee shall evaluate the request based upon the criteria set forth above and shall do so objectively. The decision shall be made without regard to whether the request is made by a parent/guardian of a student with a disability or a parent/guardian of a student without a disability. The building principal or designee shall provide a written response to the request within three (3) school days of the submission of the request. If the request is denied, the building principal or designee shall provide a reason for the denial as part of the written response. 

Observation Procedures 

Once a request for classroom observation has been approved by the building principal or designee, the following procedures shall apply: 

1. Only one parent or observer may observe a student’s classroom at any one time. Prior to the observation, the principal or designee shall notify the parent/guardian of when, where, and how long the parent/guardian will be permitted to observe (typically the observation will only be for the duration of one hour, unless there is a justifiable reason for why the observation needs to be longer).   
2. The principal or designee who approves the request for observation shall be responsible for informing the classroom teacher of the date and time of the observation. 
3. The parent/guardian or an individual conducting the observation for purposes of an IEE shall follow the sign-in procedures at each school location and shall also follow all applicable school board policies, regulations, and procedures, as well as school or classroom-specific rules. Straying from the designated observation area or failing to abide by an applicable policy, regulation, procedure, or rule may be grounds for a denial of a request for classroom observation in the future. 
4. Upon arrival and following the sign-in procedure, the parent will be shown to the classroom by a school staff member. 
5. The parent/guardian shall be responsible for providing a signed release for an individual other than the parent/guardian who is conducting the observation for purposes of an IEE. Under no circumstances may an individual observe a classroom without a signed release from the parent/guardian. 
6. The person who is conducting the observation shall remain courteous and professional at all times, and shall comply with all reasonable requests of the classroom teacher. 
7. The building principal or designee has the discretion to limit the number of observations conducted on behalf of any one student, so long as the principal or designee evaluates all requests for observation under the same objective criteria set forth under the Classroom Observation Procedures. In addition, the building principal/designee has the discretion to deny a request for an observation, if after a thorough review of the request, the building principal or designee determines that the observation will disrupt the classroom or school environment. 
8. Observations must be short in duration and will generally be limited to a time equivalent to one class period (or one hour). The building principal or designee, however, has the discretion to limit the length of any observation. 
9. In order to avoid disruption to the school day, if the observer wishes to discuss any questions or concerns with the classroom teacher, the observer must schedule a separate meeting with the classroom teacher to discuss any such questions or concerns. 
10. Observers must maintain the confidentiality of other students in the classroom and must not disclose any confidential information of other students in the classroom. 
11. The building principal or designee or a member of school staff, at the discretion of the building principal or designee, may be present in the classroom with the observer. The observation can be terminated at any time at the discretion of the principal or designee. 
12. Any disruption to classroom instruction caused by or created by the observer will be grounds for the observer being asked to immediately leave the classroom and will be grounds for denying future observation requests.  
13. In addition to complying with the requirements of these Classroom Observation Procedures, requests for observations as part of an IEE of a student with a disability must be coordinated through the Office of Special Education. 
14. The use of cameras, audio or video recording devices, or the use of electronic devices that have the capability of taking photographs or taking audio or video recordings, is prohibited during a classroom observation. This prohibition of the use of electronic devices includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, iPads, and other portable electronic devices.