According to the NCES, some 7.2 million students in the U.S. receive special education services. If you’re just beginning this journey, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering just how it all begins. The process of identifying these students begins with a crucial step: the special education evaluation as an education lawyer can share.
This guide will take you through what to expect at each stage of the special education evaluation process. We will learn how to recognize when an evaluation may be warranted and how to prepare an Individualized Education Program so you are better equipped to advocate for your child’s needs.
Understand The Special Education Evaluation Process
The special education evaluation process is a very systematic procedure in which the qualification of a child to receive special educational services is determined. It is a sort of joint effort by parents, teachers, and other professionals with specific knowledge about the child’s strengths and areas of difficulty.
Why The Evaluation Process Matters
It is how you will actually determine your child’s educational needs. By assessing your child’s strengths and weaknesses, you can begin to collaborate with the school in the development of an educational plan specifically designed to support learning and development.
Step 1: Determining the Need for an Evaluation
It usually begins when a teacher, parent or guardian notices something wrong with a child’s performance in some areas. Sometimes, it can be in reading, inattentiveness in class, or other socializing features. All these problems may indicate the need for an evaluation.
Once signs of concern are noted, the next step is a formal referral for evaluation. The referral for evaluation can be done by the parent, teacher, or school administrator. At that time, meaning after the school does a formal referral, the school needs to get parent consent to initiate the evaluation.
Stage 2: Parental Consent and Your Rights
You have specific rights as a parent that the school will inform you of at each step of the process. The school is required to get your written consent before doing an initial evaluation. Your involvement will not stop there, you will be part of every discussion and decision about your child’s education.
Following your permission, the school is allowed a number of days (normally 60 days) to conduct the assessment. At this point, your child will be assessed by various professionals to gather information about his strengths, weaknesses, and areas of need.
Step 3: The Evaluation Process
The assessment is constituted of several evaluations that give a comprehensive picture of your child.
According to our friends at K Altman Law, types of evaluation may comprise:
- Cognitive Assessment: It measures the intellectual skills of a person, such as problem-solving and reasoning abilities.
- Academic Assessments: These help measure skills in reading, writing, and other key areas of mathematics.
- Behavioral Assessments: This helps understand the behavior of the child in different settings who might be suffering from some type of emotional or behavioral disorder.
- Speech And Language Assessments: Communication skills of a child are tested if his language development is a matter of concern.
- Physical And Occupational Therapy Assessments: In case of suspicion of motor skills or physical limitations, these may be necessary.
Each of the areas of the assessment is conducted by experts. Typically, a cognitive assessment would be performed by a school psychologist, and a speech therapist would do a communication assessment. In this way, the multi-disciplinary assessment by experts therefore keeps your child’s needs very clear in perspective.
Step 4: Reviewing Results
After this assessment has been completed and all the others, a meeting for review by the school will be scheduled. For the other major element, you will discuss the outcomes with a team of your child’s regular and special education teachers, and other relevant professionals or practitioners who are helping to support your child.
Based upon the assessment findings, it will be decided by the team whether your child is eligible for special education services. Students are eligible based on IDEA criteria dependent on the type of disability determined. If eligible, an individual education program would be developed.
Step 5: Development of Individualized Education Program (IEP)
If your child is found eligible, the team will create an Individualized Education Program with you. The IEP includes: certain learning objectives for your child; special education and services to be provided; and how progress will be measured. It is there to address your child’s specific needs, and it is a legal document for your child.
As a parent, you are a key team member in the development of the IEP. You know your child best, and your input helps the team set good, realistic goals for your child’s education. The IEP is a combination of what the school team—the experts—believe will help your child and what you, as the expert on your child—believe your child needs.
Step 6: Using and Monitoring the IEP
Once the IEP is developed, the school will start providing the services and accommodations as laid out in the plan. Your child will start receiving the right support to succeed in their surroundings within the educational environment. The plan must be put in place with periodic verification that it is being adhered to.
The IEP is reviewed at least annually to assess the progress of your child and make any changes that may be necessary. But you can request an IEP review meeting with the school staff at any other time if you or the school determines that the current IEP is not adequately meeting your child’s needs.
Problem Areas And Solutions
Understanding Complexities
The special education evaluation process can be very overwhelming. Therefore, knowing the procedure can easily help you get through the process and bring confidence to you when you champion for your child’s rights.
Resolving disagreements
Sometimes, parents and the school disagree about the evaluation results or the IEP. If this happens, the options include: the possibility of a mediator, due process hearings, and filing a state complaint.
Tips For Parents And Educators
For Parents And Guardians
- The best weapon is knowledge. If you know the process you will be better able to speak up for your child.
- Keep records of all steps taken, communications, test results, and even minutes of meetings.
- Ask questions. Do not shy away from asking for clarification when unsure about any part of the process.
For An Educator
- Keep The Parents Informed: Make sure that each step taken during the process is understood by the parents and that they feel involved in decision-making.
- Join Forces With Parents: An educator should work hand in hand with parents in creating an IEP so that the final document reflects the real needs of the child.Be Empathetic: This process is going to be super stressful on the parents. With a lot of patience and understanding.
The assessment for special education is important for the academic and social experience of a child in school with a disability. It provides support in understanding a child’s participation in every step of the process, which helps the parents and educators collaborate to offer each child an environment that is positive, supportive, and learning-conducive.
Mastering the process can be very big, but having the information and tools in place, you would be an exceptional advocate for your child’s educational needs. Remember, the goal is to make sure each child gets the opportunity to succeed and live to their fullest potential.