[jQuery] [validate] Help - Validation by Remote: stuck

[Field]

I've got an combobox that is required, but the data typed by the user
must be validated against records from a database. So I've tried to
use remote:"checkStore.php" external file but am getting nothing. What
can I do to output what goes INTO checkStore.php and what comes out of
checkStore.php to help me debug it.

I'm not even sure my input name is being passed into the remote. Is
there more scripting I need than what I show here?

Here's my form:
<input type="text" name="storename_name" class="required" remote="/
rtui/codeigniter/views/include/checkstore.php" size="36" value="<?=
$storename_name; ?>" id="storeAutoSuggest" />

my jquery:
$("#Form").validate({
                        rules: {
                                storename_name: {
                                        required: true
                                }
                        }
                });

my checkstore.php:
$request = trim(strtolower($_REQUEST['value']));

                $results = $this->Stores->getStorebyName($request); //model
functions correctly
                $valid = "false";

                foreach ($results as $row)
                {
                        if (strtolower($row) == $request)
                        {
                                $valid = "true";
                        }
                }

                echo $valid;