Eligibility Determination Evaluations
In the absence of an IEP and current IEP eligibility, a parent/guardian will need to formally request an eligibility determination evaluation. Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which include public school districts and public charter schools, play an essential role in this process. Specifically, LEAs are responsible to conduct eligibility determination evaluations for:
A student who was previously eligible for special education services (as determined by an IEP) but now has an expired special education eligibility.
A student who has never been evaluated for special education services and requires an initial evaluation to determine eligibility.
A previously eligible CSOS or legacy Carson Smith Scholarship (CSS) student who must be reevaluated after a three-year period to redetermine eligibility.
Acting as facilitators, districts oversee this eligibility determination process and apply the same criteria that would apply if the student were being evaluated for public special education services. This process entails assembling a multidisciplinary team and conducting a comprehensive evaluation.
Who needs to submit a request for an eligibility determination evaluation?
The parent or legal guardian of a student for whom one of the following scenarios applies should complete a formal request for an eligibility determination evaluations using Alpine School District’s online request form:
New student (enrolled in an approved private school or participating in homeschool) seeking initial enrollment into the CSOS program who does NOT have an IEP with a current special education eligibility determination.
Returning student who was a previous recipient of the CSOS grant but has since left the program and is now seeking readmission and does NOT have an IEP with a current special education eligibility determination.
Homeschool student who is currently receiving the CSOS grant and requires a re-evaluation to determine continued program eligibility at the end of the 36 month eligibility period.
The parent/guardian of a student who attends a qualifying private school through the CSOS program and requires a re-evaluation to determine continued program eligibility should NOT complete this form. The names of these students are passed along to the Alpine School District directly by the qualifying private school prior to the end of their current eligibility period. Please contact the CSOS coordinator at your child's school if you would like to verify that they will be submitting your child's name to the district for needed re-evaluation.
How do I know if my child’s evaluation will be conducted through the Alpine School District?
In state code, all public school districts and charter schools are referred to as Local Education Agencies (LEAs). At the time of this writing, there are 107 LEAs throughout the State of Utah. There are specific conditions that determine which LEA should conduct a child's CSOS evaluation. We recognize that these conditions can be a bit confusing and convoluted. To help answer the question if the Alpine School District will conduct your child's eligibility evaluation, we've put together this decision tree document.
Generally speaking, if your child resides within Alpine School District boundaries or attends a qualifying private school within its boundaries, it is most likely that the eligibility evaluation will be completed in the Alpine School District. However, in certain instances, families will need to contact another charter school or public school district. Again, refer to the decision tree for detailed instructions.
How do I submit a formal request to have my child evaluated for the CSOS program?
In the Alpine School District, a formal request for an Eligibility Determination Evaluation is made using this online form. Please note! Submitting a request for an eligibility determination evaluation is not the same as applying for the CSOS program. Applications to the CSOS program are managed by the Children First Education Fund. For more information, visit the CFEF website at cfe-fund.org.
Take note that you will need the following materials on hand in order to submit your evaluation request:
Your child’s birth certificate
(When applicable) Any legal documentation outlining legal custody and your ability to make educational decisions on behalf of your child
Proof of Utah residency, which can include:
If your child will attend a qualifying private school, you must submit an acceptance letter from a qualifying private school.
If your child will be homeschooled, you must submit a copy of a signed affidavit indicating that you assume sole responsibility for the education of your child. For more information, refer to the "Qualifying Educational Settings" section above.
What does an eligibility determination evaluation look like?
District personnel, usually led by a school psychologist who oversees the evaluation process, collaborates with parents, private schools, and qualifying providers to review existing information about the student and establish a plan to gather any new information needed to complete the evaluation. A time will be scheduled with the family to administer an appropriate array of tests to the student to better understand their strengths, needs, and the impact of their disability. Common tests that are administered include cognitive (intellectual ability), academic, social/behavioral, and adaptive behavior assessments. Depending on the needs of the student, other domain-specific assessments can also be administered, such as speech and language evaluations, hearing tests, and the like.
Some assessment protocols require classroom teacher and parent rating scales. Prompt completion of these test items will help streamline the assessment process. Parents are also welcome to furnish copies of any evaluations or reports from outside agencies. Such information can certainly be considered in the eligibility determination process, though it does not automatically guarantee eligibility.
What happens at the end of the assessment process?
While you may be curious to know the outcome of administered tests at the time they are given, an appropriate amount of time is needed by the professionals to score the assessments and generate a summary of their findings. This information, along with information gathered from parent/teacher interviews and other provided sources, is compiled in an evaluation summary report that is presented and discussed in an Assessment Team Meeting.
Who attends an Assessment Team Meeting?
In an Assessment Team Meeting, individuals who are familiar with the student, those who have been involved in the evaluation process, and representatives who understand the stipulations of Utah’s special education rules, join together to review the evaluation data and consider the findings in light of Utah’s special education eligibility criteria.
A student’s assessment team is typically comprised of several individuals, each bringing their expertise and perspectives to the evaluation process:
LEA Representative: A representative of the Local Education Agency (LEA) to ensure adherence to district policies and procedures and state special education rules.
LEA Special Education Representative: An expert in special education services within the district, responsible for providing insight into potential support and accommodations.
Parent/Guardian: The student's legal representative, offering valuable input regarding the student's educational history, challenges, and goals.
Individual Who Can Interpret Assessment Results: An expert who interprets assessment data and helps the team understand its implications for the student's eligibility. This is typically a licensed school psychologist in the LEA.
Private School Representative (where applicable): Represents the private school attended by the student, providing insights into the educational environment, the student’s educational process, and any accommodations made.
Other individuals may include additional representatives such as general education teachers, related service providers, or others who could contribute specialized knowledge to the evaluation process.
What happens in an Assessment Team Meeting?
The Assessment Team Meeting is designed to be a collaborative and thorough process to ensure that students who need specialized educational services are properly identified and are eligible to receive support through the CSOS program. The following overview outlines what typically occurs during this meeting:
Introduction and Purpose:
Review of Prior History and Present Levels:
The team reviews the student's educational and medical history, including previous evaluations, an Individualized Education Programs (IEP) if applicable, and other relevant documents to help in understanding the student's needs and past interventions. This helps in establishing the student's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance.
Review of Assessment and Evaluation Outcomes:
The team reviews new findings obtained through standardized tests, observations, rating scales, and other assessment tools tailored to evaluate the student’s specific areas of need. Each professional on the team (such as a psychologist, special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, etc.) contributes their expertise to evaluate different aspects of the student's abilities and challenges.
Discussion of Findings and Eligibility Determination:
The team discusses their overall findings and, in keeping with the requirements of Utah’s Special Education Rules, determines whether the student has a qualifying disability as defined under IDEA and would likely qualify for special education services in a public school setting. For K-12 students, this discussion includes considering whether or not the student would likely require 180 daily special education services minutes or more if enrolled in a public school.
Documentation:
The team documents the evaluation results and the eligibility determination in an Assessment Team Meeting Record (ATMR). A copy of the evaluation summary report is also included. A signed copy is provided to the parent/guardian and, where applicable, the qualifying private school; the original form and evaluation protocols are retained in the district.
Throughout the meeting, parents and, when appropriate, the student are encouraged to ask questions, provide input, and share their perspectives. Such involvement is crucial in ensuring that the assessment reflects a comprehensive view of the student's needs and circumstances.
If my child is found to be eligible for the CSOS and I later decide to enroll them in the Alpine School District, will they automatically qualify for special education services?
No. Assessment Team decisions are for the sole purpose of determining eligibility for the CSOS program. Eligibility for a scholarship as determined by a multidisciplinary evaluation team under this program does not establish eligibility for an IEP under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Subchapter II, 20 U.S.C. Secs. 1400 to 1419, and is not binding on any LEA that is required to provide an IEP under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (see UAC 53E-7-402-4).
What are the implications of accepting the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship?
Acceptance of this scholarship has the same effect as a parental refusal to consent to services as described in 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.300, issued under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq. This means that by accepting the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, parents are opting out of the special education services that would be provided by the public school system under IDEA. However, this does not prevent the student from returning to public school at any time. If a child returns to a public LEA, special education eligibility must be determined according to district policies, Utah State Board of Education Special Education Rules (SER), and federal law (IDEA).
By accepting the scholarship, parents acknowledge that they are assuming responsibility for securing and funding the appropriate educational services and supports for their child through private means or other non-public resources. The public school district will not be responsible for providing or funding the special education services that would have been available if the child were enrolled in public school. However, the child’s eligibility for special education services can be re-evaluated if they re-enroll in the public school system.
