Rights of Parents to Examine Records

The cite is Ed Code Section 56504 and it says requests can be made orally or in writing. Of course, having such requests in writing creates evidence of the request.

C. 56504. The parent shall have the right and opportunity to examine
all school records of his or her child and to receive copies pursuant
to this section and to Section 49065 within five business days after
the request is made by the parent, either orally or in writing. The
public agency shall comply with a request for school records without
unnecessary delay before any meeting regarding an individualized
education program or any hearing pursuant to Section 300.121,
300.301, 300.304, or 300.507 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal
Regulations or resolution session pursuant to Section 300.510 of
Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and in no case more than
five business days after the request is made orally or in writing.

The parent shall have the right to a response from the public agency
to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the
records. If a school record includes information on more than one
pupil, the parents of those pupils have the right to inspect and
review only the information relating to their child or to be informed
of that specific information. A public agency shall provide a
parent, on request of the parent, a list of the types and locations
of school records collected, maintained, or used by the agency. A
public agency may charge no more than the actual cost of reproducing
the records, but if this cost effectively prevents the parent from
exercising the right to receive the copy or copies, the copy or
copies shall be reproduced at no cost.