Which of the following is NOT a time when parents must be notified of their rights?

• A. At least once annually
• B. Upon initial referral or parent request for evaluation
• C. Upon receipt of state complaint or due process complaint
• D. Recommendation of a disciplinary change of placement

Answer: (D)

Understanding when parents must receive procedural safeguards helps ensure families know their rights at the right moments in the IEP process. The school district must provide these rights at least once every school year, when a child is first referred for an evaluation or when a parent requests an evaluation, and when the district or the parent files a state complaint or due process complaint. These moments are designed to keep families informed as decisions about identification, evaluation, placement, or services are considered.

The option about a disciplinary change of placement is tricky. A formal change of placement due to disciplinary reasons triggers the right-to-notice requirement because it changes the child’s status and the IEP framework. However, merely a recommendation to change placement does not itself constitute an actual change in placement or an action that initiates the safeguards process. Therefore, giving rights notices isn’t required at the moment of a mere recommendation, making that option the one that is not consistently a required trigger.