Making an Initial Referral to the IEP Team

The 90 day timeline begins in the following circumstances:

1. When the Problem Solving Team decides to “refer to EC”.

2. Receipt of a written letter from a parent that they suspect a disability OR they are requesting evaluations.

Once the Problem Solving Team (which includes the parent) has determined that an initial referral to EC should be made, the following steps should be taken during the 90 day timeline:

1. The EC Representative at the Problem-Solving Team Meeting will determine a date for the initial referral meeting and provide the parent with an invitation to the initial referral meeting.

2. The designated member of the Problem Solving Team will print the following documents from RTI:Stored and give them to the EC Teacher that will be handling the referral within 24 hours of the Problem-Solving Team meeting where the team decided to make an initial referral.

   • Student Plan

   • Parent Notification Letter of Changes in Support

   • Parent Invitation to Tier 3 Meeting

   • Online Progress Monitoring

   • Vision/Hearing Screenings

   • Hit the “UPDATE” button and print the “RTI Summary Report” after filling in the following sections:

     • 1. Criterion 2

       2. Rate of Improvement

       3. Literacy Data Summary

       4. Math Data Summary

   • Any documents uploaded under “Additional Documents”

   • Any other optional items in the “Document Checklist” that have been completed prior to the meeting in which the decision to make an initial referral to EC was made

     • 1. Social Developmental History

       2. Academic Observations

       3. Functional Observation

       4. Language Checklist

3. Continue interventions outlined in the student’s Tiered Intervention Plan. Interventions do not stop just because the student has entered the referral process.

In the event that a parent submits a letter requesting evaluations, it should be given to the EC Team Leader within 24 hours for processing and the scheduling of a referral meeting

Please remember the following:

1. Referrals do not mean automatic evaluations.

2. It is unethical to ask parents to write letters to “expedite the process.”

3. Once the student has entered the referral process, any individualized screenings will be completed as part of the referral process after parental consent is obtained.

4. The 90-day timeline applies to general education and EC.