Referral information and input, from the child’s team, leads to the identification of specific areas to be included in the evaluation. All areas of suspected disability must be evaluated. In addition to determining the existence of a disability, the evaluation should also focus on the educational needs of the student as they relate to a continuum of services. Comprehensive evaluations shall be performed by a multidisciplinary team using a variety of sources of information that are sensitive to cultural, linguistic, and environmental factors or sensory impairments. The required participants for evaluations related to suspected disabilities are outlined in the eligibility standards. For more information on Eligibility Requirements please see the link Evaluations & Eligibility.
Special Education Teachers will be asked to provide input and complete academic achievement assessments and in some cases, will be required to complete observations, etc. Special Education Teachers are important members of the evaluation team.
All evaluations for special education services must be completed within 60 calendar days. This includes breaks, holidays, and the summer.
*Note: Additional information on Timeline Extension Requests can be found in this manual.
After completion of the evaluation, the IEP team must meet to review results and determine if the student is eligible for special education services. Eligibility decisions for special education services is two-pronged:
1. The team decides whether the evaluation results indicate the presence of a disability, and
2. The team decides whether the identified disability adversely impacts the student’s educational performance such that he or she requires the most intensive intervention (i.e., special education and related services).
The parent/legal guardian is provided a copy of the written evaluation report completed by assessment specialists (e.g., psychoeducational evaluation report, speech and language evaluation report, vision specialist report, occupational and/or physical therapist report, etc.). After the team determines eligibility, the parent/legal guardian is provided a copy of the eligibility report and a prior written notice documenting the team’s decision(s). If the student has been found eligible as a student with an educational disability, an IEP will be developed within 30 calendar days.
The Special Education Case Manager is responsible for scheduling both the Eligibility and IEP meetings, sending the Invitation to a Meeting document, and completing the Prior Written Notice in a timely manner. The Certifying Specialist will create and finalize the Eligibility Report based on the team's decision.
For initial eligibility determinations, the team must consist of the parent/guardian, a general education teacher, a special education teacher, the Certifying/Assessment Specialist, and an LEA representative.