Service logs show what actually happened: which days your child had speech, OT or counseling, for how long, and what the provider worked on. Since July 1, 2026, Florida law gives parents a specific right to see them. This page gives you a ready-to-send request, explains which laws back it up, and includes a simple tracker for spotting missed sessions. For background on the 2026 law and the school's duty to notify you about missed services, see our explainer on Florida's missed IEP services law.
What right am I using?
Section 1003.5716(5)(b), Florida Statutes, added by chapter 2026-59, says:
A parent or guardian has the right to access, upon request, all service provider logs or progress notes within 15 school days after such service is provided. The school district shall inform parents of this right at each IEP meeting.
Two other rules back up a records request:
- Rule 6A-6.03311(3), Florida Administrative Code: parents "shall be afforded an opportunity to inspect and review their student's education records including all records related to the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of the child and the provision of FAPE," and may have "a representative of the parent inspect and review the records."
- 34 CFR 300.613 (federal IDEA rule): the school "must comply with a request without unnecessary delay and before any meeting regarding an IEP, or any hearing," and "in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made." It also gives you the right to "a response from the participating agency to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records."
Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, adds that students and parents "shall have the right to access their education records, including the right to inspect and review those records."
The 15-school-day window in s. 1003.5716(5)(b) is the newest and most specific of these. The statute does not say how access is given (copies, a portal or in-person review), so ask how your district handles it.
Which services does it cover?
Section 1003.5716(5) speaks of "all service provider logs or progress notes" for services provided, in the same subsection that covers "related services" in the IEP. For most autistic students that means speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling or psychological services, and similar services listed in the IEP's related services section. If you also want records of ESE instruction time, behavior data or incident reports, ask for them under your general right to inspect education records, and name them specifically.
The request template
Example template only. Adjust it for your child and your district. It is not legal advice.
[Date]
To: [ESE case manager or ESE contact], [School name]
Cc: [Principal]; [district ESE contact, if known]
Re: Request for service provider logs and progress notes, [child's full name], grade [grade], date of birth [date]
Dear [name],
Under section 1003.5716(5)(b), Florida Statutes, I am requesting access to all service provider logs and progress notes for the following related services in [child]'s IEP, for the period [start date] to [end date]:
- [Speech-language therapy]
- [Occupational therapy]
- [Counseling / other]
For each session, I would like to see the date, the length of the session, whether it was individual or group, the provider, and any notes on what was worked on. If a scheduled session did not take place, please show that too.
I would also like to inspect and review the following education records under Rule 6A-6.03311(3), F.A.C., and 34 CFR 300.613: [for example, progress reports on IEP goals, behavior data, any incident reports].
Please let me know how and when I can access these records (copies by email are easiest for me). [Child]'s next IEP meeting is [date, if known], so I would be grateful to have them before then.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Phone] | [Email]
Send it by email so it is dated. If you would like your child's BCBA or an advocate to review the records with you, the rule allows a representative; you may need to sign a release first.
How do I use the logs once I have them?
Compare the logs with what the IEP promises. A simple tracker makes gaps easy to see. Copy this table into a spreadsheet or notebook:
| Week of | Service | IEP says (minutes and format) | Logged sessions and minutes | Missed | Notice received? | Make-up offered? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Date] | Speech-language | [e.g., 2 x 30 min individual] | [e.g., 1 x 30 min] | [e.g., 30 min] | [Yes/No, date] | [Yes/No, details] |
| [Date] | Occupational therapy | [e.g., 1 x 30 min] | ||||
| [Date] | Counseling | [e.g., 2 x 20 min group] |
Things to look for:
- Missing dates. Weeks with no logged session for a service the IEP lists.
- Shorter sessions. 15 minutes logged where the IEP says 30.
- Format changes. Group sessions where the IEP says individual.
- No notice. Since July 1, 2026, if a related service is "not provided as scheduled," the district "must notify the parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10 school days, explain the reason the service was not provided, and discuss a plan for makeup services" (s. 1003.5716(5)(a)).
- Vague notes. If entries do not show what was worked on, ask the provider for an explanation, which the federal rule entitles you to.
What if the school does not respond?
- Follow up in writing after a few school days, restating the request and the 15-school-day window: "I am following up on my [date] request under s. 1003.5716(5)(b). Could you tell me when the logs will be available?"
- Ask the district ESE office who handles records requests and how access is given.
- Before an IEP meeting, remind the school that 34 CFR 300.613 requires access before any IEP meeting.
- If access is still refused, Florida's dispute options apply. A records or missed-services problem is the kind of issue a state complaint can address; see IEP dispute options in Florida.
Keep every email, log and notice in one folder. A clear record helps at the next IEP meeting, whatever you decide to do.
Can I see my child's ABA session notes too?
Your private ABA provider's records are health records, not school records, so different rules apply. Ask your provider directly; our guide to ABA records and your access rights explains how that works. If your child's RBT works at school under s. 1003.572, some districts ask the provider to share school-setting data with the school, and that data may then become part of the school's records.
How Hope Center helps
Our BCBAs can help you read service logs and progress reports, compare them with your child's IEP, and connect school goals with the ABA plan. Hope Center's staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows. For help preparing for your next meeting, contact us or call 561-337-8865. Our Florida IEP guide for autism covers the rest of the process.