---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 C.F.R. § 300.503"
title: "34"
number: "300.503"
heading: "Prior notice by the public agency; content of notice."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/34/300.503"
---

# §300.503. Prior notice by the public agency; content of notice.

- (a) **Notice.** Written notice that meets the requirements of [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section must be given to the parents of a child with a disability a reasonable time before the public agency—
  - (1) Proposes to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of FAPE to the child; or
  - (2) Refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of FAPE to the child.
- (b) **Content of notice.** The notice required under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must include—
  - (1) A description of the action proposed or refused by the agency;
  - (2) An explanation of why the agency proposes or refuses to take the action;
  - (3) A description of each evaluation procedure, assessment, record, or report the agency used as a basis for the proposed or refused action;
  - (4) A statement that the parents of a child with a disability have protection under the procedural safeguards of this part and, if this notice is not an initial referral for evaluation, the means by which a copy of a description of the procedural safeguards can be obtained;
  - (5) Sources for parents to contact to obtain assistance in understanding the provisions of this part;
  - (6) A description of other options that the IEP Team considered and the reasons why those options were rejected; and
  - (7) **A description of other factors that are relevant to the agency's proposal or refusal.**
- (c) **Notice in understandable language.**
  - (1) The notice required under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must be—
    - (i) Written in language understandable to the general public; and
    - (ii) Provided in the native language of the parent or other mode of communication used by the parent, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so.
  - (2) If the native language or other mode of communication of the parent is not a written language, the public agency must take steps to ensure—
    - (i) That the notice is translated orally or by other means to the parent in his or her native language or other mode of communication;
    - (ii) That the parent understands the content of the notice; and
    - (iii) That there is written evidence that the requirements in paragraphs [(c)(2)(i)](#c-2-i) and [(ii)](#c-2-ii) of this section have been met.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 1406, 1411-1419, and 3474; Pub. L. 111-256, 124 Stat. 2643; unless otherwise noted.

### Source

Source: 71 FR 46753, Aug. 14, 2006, unless otherwise noted.