Each local educational agency must establish an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee for each eligible child with a disability and for each child for whom an EVALUATION is conducted.
The term individualized education program (IEP) means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with the ADMISSION, REVIEW, AND DISMISSAL COMMITTEE frameworks.
The ARD committee is the:
Group that determines whether the child is a child with a disability and the educational needs of the child;
Team defined in federal law that develops the IEP; and
Group that determines the educational placement of the child.
The ARD committee must make its decisions regarding the child's initial eligibility determination and, if appropriate, IEP and placement within 30 calendar days from the date of the completion of the written full individual and initial evaluation report unless one of the following situations applies:
If the 30th day falls during the summer and school is not in session, the ARD committee has until the first day of classes in the fall to finalize its decisions, unless the initial evaluation indicates that the child will need EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES during that summer; or
If the LEA received the written consent for the evaluation from the parent at least 35 but fewer than 45 school days before the last instructional day of the school year and the child was not absent from school three or more days between the time that the LEA received written consent and the last instructional day of the school year, the ARD committee must meet not later than the 15th school day of the following school year, unless the initial evaluation indicates that the child will need extended school year services during that summer.
The ARD committee must review the child's IEP periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to determine whether the annual goals are being achieved.
The LEA must ensure that a reevaluation of each child with a disability is conducted: and ARD Committee meeting is held to review the evaluation information.
ARD committee meetings are necessary for initial program placement and at any time teachers or parents feel a change is needed. While IEPs must be reviewed annually, ARD committee meeting may be held many times during the year.
The IEP must be reviewed at least once a year, but an ARD meeting may be held at other times. For example, an ARD will need to be held to review additional assessment.
The REED must be conducted by the Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee members and other qualified professionals, as appropriate. In conducting the REED, the ARD committee must review:
Evaluation and information provided by the parents of the child
Current classroom based, local, or state assessments, and classroom-based observations
Observations by teachers and related service providers
The Re Evaluation Process listed below should be followed based on student information and determination of disability.
At the Annual ARD Committee Meeting one year prior to the reevaluation date, the ARDC should consider what the needs are for the reevaluation. Formal and Informal assessment should be considered.
The evaluation recommendations of the ARD Committee should be documented in the ARD Committee document.
The REED form should be completed and provided to the parent, including formal and informal evaluation recommendations.
PERIODIC REVIEW AND REVISION OF THE IEP
The ARD committee must review the child's IEP periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to determine whether the annual goals are being achieved.
The ARD committee must revise the IEP as appropriate to address:
Any lack of expected progress toward the annual goals and in the general education curriculum, where appropriate;
The results of any reevaluation;
Information about the child provided to, or by the parent, in the REVIEW OF EXISTING EVALUATION DATA;
The child's anticipated needs; or
Other matters.