Referral Process

A) If a parent feels their child is not making effective progress in regular education they may refer their child for a special needs assessment. Parental referral eliminates the pre-referral process.

B) If difficulty persists after the pre-referral process, then the student is referred to Special Education. The school department has 5 school working days to send a notification letter to the parents with an explanation of the procedural rights available to parents of children with special needs.

C) Parents must give written consent for the school department to begin the evaluation process on the child.

D) Once written consent from the parent is received the school department has 30 school working days to evaluate the child.

E) Once the assessments are completed the school department has 15 school working days to:

1) Complete assessment summaries of the evaluations (at least 2 days
before TEAM meeting).
2) Notify parents in writing of the date of the TEAM meeting. This should
be done early to ensure opportunity to attend.
3) Hold TEAM meeting.
4) Get 2 copies of the IEP sent to the parents with notification letter
and explanation.

F) Parents review IEP and determine which option they want to exercise.

Parental Options

1) Parent accepts the IEP

a) parent signs IEP
b) school gets accepted IEP
c) teachers get copy of IEP
d) IEP goes into effect immediately
e) IEP reviewed after 10 months
f) new or amended IEP written and sent to parents
within 10 school working days
g) TEAM meeting held every year after
h) a reevaluation is done every 3 years

2) Parent rejects IEP

a) school gets rejected IEP
b) school notifies BSEA - (Bureau of Special Education Appeals) Settles disputes over provisions of Special Education.in writing of the rejection
c) BSEA sends parents notice of Appeals Process
d) parents have 3 choices; mediation, hearing or do nothing
e) if mediation fails you go to hearing
f) hearing happens within 20 days of request in writing
g) decision is made by BSEA 45 days from time of hearing request
h) if the parent does nothing the school keeps the child in the last-agreed upon
program

3) Parents request Independent Evaluation

a) evaluation is completed within 30 days if possible
b) TEAM reconvenes within 10 school working days after receiving Independent Evaluation and writes new or modified IEP
c) IEP sent to parent within 10 school working days