Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I schedule a meeting with my child's teachers before submitting my request for a referral for evaluations?
A: Yes. In fact, this is the first best step in addressing concerns for your child. You can schedule a meeting through your child's grade level guidance counselor. You and your child's teachers can discuss options for addressing any challenges for your child.
Q: If my child already has an IEP, can I request a meeting before the scheduled IEP date?
A: Yes. Parents can request an IEP meeting at any time during the year of your child's IEP. Also remember that your child's casemanager will contact you to schedule your child's annual review of the IEP or making a decision for re-evaluation.
Q: What do I need in order to be prepared for the referral meeting?
A: Any information about your child that you can share with the team will be helpful. If you have a current private evaluation, that would be very helpful. The law provides for the review and consideration of any private evaluation shared by the parent.
Q: Am I allowed to bring a guest to my child's meeting?
A: Yes. However, it would be a good idea to let the school know of any invited guest so that arrangements can be made for a proper accommodations for all intended participants.
Q: How long does it take after I submit my request for a meeting for the meeting to take place?
A: Upon receipt of your request, it should take no longer than 14 calendar days to meet.
Q: If my child already has a 504 plan, can I still request a referral for evaluations?
A: Yes. Your child's 504 team can seek special education involvement or you, the parent, can submit your request.
Q: What happens if my child does not qualify for special education services?
A: If your child does not qualify for special education services but has a disability recognized by the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), your child may be eligible for services under a 504 plan. You may then contact the school's 504 coordinator to schedule a meeting to discuss your child's needs.
Q: After I submit my request for referral for evaluations for my child, would my child receive an IEP?
A: It depends on the outcome of the discussion and the results from testing. The referral process involves a first meeting when the team meets to discuss the concerns and determine whether further testing is needed. If the team decides that further testing is needed to determine eligibility for special education services through an IEP, permission for testing is obtained from you, the parent, at that meeting. Once the team receives your permission to test, a battery of tests, based on the suspected disability for which the team feels the child is at risk, is given. This may take a period of time running from a few days to a few weeks depending on the required tests.
Q: What if I have my own psychological report, can my child qualify for an IEP based on my report?
A: It depends. Eligibility for special education services can be determined based on existing data that will include your report and data and observations provided by you and your child's teachers. After review of this existing data, your child may or may not be eligible for services through special education. An expert who can interpret the psychological report will be on hand to review and explain any data related to the psychological report. On the flip side, even with the current information/existing data, including your report, the team may want to request further testing or additional data to determine eligibility.
Q: Would further evaluations cost the parent anything?
A: No. Evaluations are done at no cost to the parent.
Q: What happens after the initial referral meeting?
A: If the team refers your child for further testing, the team will obtain your permission for testing. After the completion of the tests, you will be contacted to attend a meeting where a summary report of the results will be provided and discussed by the team. If your child qualifies under one of the 13 categories identified by IDEA, an IEP may be written and proposed at the meeting. Services will begin upon receipt of your consent for services. If your child does not qualify under one of these 13 categories, the process comes to an end. You are provided with prior written notice of the team's decision.
Q: Would all my child's teachers attend the meeting?
A: No. The law requires that the team is made up of: the parent/guardian; a special educator; a regular educator (one of the child's teachers); an individual who can interpret the data from any report to be discussed at the meeting; and a Local Education Agent (LEA).
A: Yes. In fact, this is the first best step in addressing concerns for your child. You can schedule a meeting through your child's grade level guidance counselor. You and your child's teachers can discuss options for addressing any challenges for your child.
Q: If my child already has an IEP, can I request a meeting before the scheduled IEP date?
A: Yes. Parents can request an IEP meeting at any time during the year of your child's IEP. Also remember that your child's casemanager will contact you to schedule your child's annual review of the IEP or making a decision for re-evaluation.
Q: What do I need in order to be prepared for the referral meeting?
A: Any information about your child that you can share with the team will be helpful. If you have a current private evaluation, that would be very helpful. The law provides for the review and consideration of any private evaluation shared by the parent.
Q: Am I allowed to bring a guest to my child's meeting?
A: Yes. However, it would be a good idea to let the school know of any invited guest so that arrangements can be made for a proper accommodations for all intended participants.
Q: How long does it take after I submit my request for a meeting for the meeting to take place?
A: Upon receipt of your request, it should take no longer than 14 calendar days to meet.
Q: If my child already has a 504 plan, can I still request a referral for evaluations?
A: Yes. Your child's 504 team can seek special education involvement or you, the parent, can submit your request.
Q: What happens if my child does not qualify for special education services?
A: If your child does not qualify for special education services but has a disability recognized by the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), your child may be eligible for services under a 504 plan. You may then contact the school's 504 coordinator to schedule a meeting to discuss your child's needs.
Q: After I submit my request for referral for evaluations for my child, would my child receive an IEP?
A: It depends on the outcome of the discussion and the results from testing. The referral process involves a first meeting when the team meets to discuss the concerns and determine whether further testing is needed. If the team decides that further testing is needed to determine eligibility for special education services through an IEP, permission for testing is obtained from you, the parent, at that meeting. Once the team receives your permission to test, a battery of tests, based on the suspected disability for which the team feels the child is at risk, is given. This may take a period of time running from a few days to a few weeks depending on the required tests.
Q: What if I have my own psychological report, can my child qualify for an IEP based on my report?
A: It depends. Eligibility for special education services can be determined based on existing data that will include your report and data and observations provided by you and your child's teachers. After review of this existing data, your child may or may not be eligible for services through special education. An expert who can interpret the psychological report will be on hand to review and explain any data related to the psychological report. On the flip side, even with the current information/existing data, including your report, the team may want to request further testing or additional data to determine eligibility.
Q: Would further evaluations cost the parent anything?
A: No. Evaluations are done at no cost to the parent.
Q: What happens after the initial referral meeting?
A: If the team refers your child for further testing, the team will obtain your permission for testing. After the completion of the tests, you will be contacted to attend a meeting where a summary report of the results will be provided and discussed by the team. If your child qualifies under one of the 13 categories identified by IDEA, an IEP may be written and proposed at the meeting. Services will begin upon receipt of your consent for services. If your child does not qualify under one of these 13 categories, the process comes to an end. You are provided with prior written notice of the team's decision.
Q: Would all my child's teachers attend the meeting?
A: No. The law requires that the team is made up of: the parent/guardian; a special educator; a regular educator (one of the child's teachers); an individual who can interpret the data from any report to be discussed at the meeting; and a Local Education Agent (LEA).