Special Education Referral Process

Referral

Parent/Guardian Referrals. If parents suspect their student to have a learning disability, they may contact their student's campus to request a Special Education referral. The request must be in writing and given to a campus administrator. Parent conferences including (counselor, teacher, administrator, RTI teacher, LSSP) should be held to discuss viable options other than a Special Education testing, if possible. The administrator will then turn the request in to the campus counselor should testing be deemed appropriate. The campus counselor will initiate a referral packet and send Notice of Procedural Safeguards to the parent.

MISD Staff Referrals. Prior to any school initiated Special Education referral, the Student Support Team (SST) shall meet, use interventions for an amount of time and analyze data from the interventions.

Consent for Evaluation

If a Special Education Evaluation is necessary, the Counselor, Special Education Diagnostician/ LSSP/SLP will give the parent Notice of Procedural Safeguards if not already received by the parent. They will also explain the Notice & Consent for Special Education Evaluation form. If the parent does not return the Notice & Consent form to the school, the school has fulfilled their child find duties.

Evaluation

Gather evaluation data and coordinate/direct the completion of the evaluation/input forms (parent, health, education, teacher, etc.). The evaluation data consists of information from a variety of sources, including but not limited to efforts and results from early intervention activities, aptitude and achievement testing, teacher information, parent information, medical/psychological records or reports supplied by parent to support diagnosis of a physical or mental impairment, school health records/information, results from state assessments, attendance, grades, and behavior records.

After referral is completes, campus assessment staff will gain consent.

The evaluation must be completed within 45 school days from the date the school received the signed consent form from the parent. If the student is absent 3 or more school days within the 45 school days, these days are added to the initial 45 school day timeline. The ARD committee will meet to review the evaluation data 30 calendar days from the completion of the evaluation.

If consent is received by the school at least 35 school days but less than 45 school days before the last day of instruction and the student has 3 or more absences, the evaluation is due 45 school days after the consent is signed. The ARD committee will meet to review the evaluation data 30 calendar days from the completion of the evaluation.

If consent is received by the school at least 35 school days but less than 45 school days from the last day of instruction, the evaluation is completed and report given to parent by June 30. The ARD committee will meet on or before the 15th instructional day of the next school year to review the evaluation data.

If consent is received by the school less than 35 school days before the last day of instruction, the evaluation is due 45 school days after the consent is received. The ARD committee will meet to review the evaluation data 30 calendar days from the completion of the evaluation.

Section ARD Committee Meeting

The ARD Facilitator/LSSP/SLP/Diagnostician shall provide parents with Invitation to the ARD Meeting. The following MISD staff shall be notified and attend the meeting: MISD administrator, ARD Facilitator/LSSP/Diagnostician/SLP, and at least one general education teacher, one special education teacher and if required any related service personnel. If the student has a physical pr medical disability, then the school nurse may be a required member of the ARD committee.

The committee shall:

• Draw upon information from a variety of sources in the evaluation process so that the possibility of error is minimized.
• Document and consider all such sources of information and significant factors related to the student's learning disability or impairment and the educational need for specialized instruction.
• Review the Evaluation.
• If the student is identified for needing specialized instruction based upon an educational need and IEP is created.

After the meeting, the ARD Facilitator/LSSP/Diagnostician/SLP will send to the parent, within three school days, the completed ARD paperwork including Prior Written Notice.

Admission, Review and Dismissal meeting (ARD)

ARD meetings shall be held on an annual basis, on or before the month of the previous year's ARD Meeting.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

The Special Education monitor teacher for the student shall be responsible for providing a copy to each of the students teachers, campus administrator(s), an any other FISD employee who has responsibility to implement the plan. The students IEP may be uploaded into Eduphoria for this purpose.

Reevaluation

Every three years (or sooner if necessary) or prior to a significant change of placement, a reevaluation shall be requested by parent or ARD Committee.

Is there evidence of a disability?

YES

NO

Referral for Special Education-

• Completion of the initial referral packet.
• RTI documentation.
• Administrator Approval
• Director of Special Education Approval
• LSSP/Diagnostician/SLP will meet with and explain the evaluation process to the parent.
• Parents are given a copy of procedural safeguards.

Prior written notice to indicate refusal to evaluate no later than 15^th day after dated request for evaluation.

Notice of refusal to provide services is sent to parents.

Proposal to evaluate is signed by parent. Must fall within 15^th school day after dated request for evaluation

Parents may access dispute resolution options

45 school days for completion of evaluation

30 calendar days to hold initial ARD