Are you a parent or guardian wondering how to get your child an IEP? It can be very overwhelming, but we’re here to help make it simple! Let’s discuss the necessary steps you and your child’s school need to take to get special education services and an IEP.
Where to Start?
Do you feel as though your child is struggling in school? Could it be behavior, physical, emotional, or academically related? Is your child bringing home low scores on classwork or tests? Does your child’s teacher seem concerned of the progress your child is making in their class? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child could potentially qualify for special education services and an IEP. But. Where do you start?
First, you need to write a letter to the school to request an evaluation for your child. Be specific as to why you are requesting the evaluation: what are you concerned about? Be sure to keep a copy of this letter for your records! You will also want to be sure the date that the letter is given to the school is located on your letter. This date will serve as a record for when the request was made and gives the school a specified amount of time to get the evaluation started (usually 10 days from the request).
Consent for Evaluation
Next, you want to be sure to give consent for the school to conduct the evaluation. In your evaluation request, you are able to include your consent for the evaluation to begin. A school may not perform a special education evaluation without parental consent. Your school district will or should provide a “Consent to Evaluate” form for you to sign. If they don’t provide it, be sure to request one.
Evaluation Process
After your request for evaluation is delivered, the school should reach out and begin the evaluation process within ten days, in most cases. If you haven’t heard anything after five days, reach out to the school to be sure that the process has started or will begin within the next few days. The school is required to have the evaluation completed within 60 days of the initial request.
A school psychologist will perform the evaluation for you child. However, it is important that at least one other professional performs an evaluation as well. This could include a speech therapist, occupational therapist, or physical therapist. Teachers will gather progress monitoring data, behavior data, and other important information to use for the report. A medical history, if relevant, can be included from your child’s doctor. Finally, once the evaluation is completed, the team will convene for a meeting to discuss the results.
Determination of Need
The final step of the evaluation process is to meet as a team to discuss the results. Once all of the information has been delivered, a determination needs to be made to know whether your child qualifies for special education services or not. To qualify for special education services, your child needs to fall under one of the 13 disability categories outlined in IDEA. These categories are:
- Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
- Other Health Impairment (OHI)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Emotional Disturbance
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Deafness
- Hearing Impairment
- Deaf-blindness
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Multiple Disabilities
If your child falls under one of the above-mentioned disability categories, the school district has 30 days to convene the team again for an IEP meeting. Finally, the IEP is created with the team and special education services can begin for your child!
Additional Information
Are you looking for more information? If so, check out this blog on Special Education Laws.
You can find more information on the Special Education Processes at this website.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Use this FREE preference assessment to learn about student interests to include in the IEP! This helps for a more well rounded IEP should the student ever leave you or your district. This is a free download!
