Denying educational evaluation at MCPS

[Anonymous]

Hi - My DS just started 8th grade at MCPS and is a part of an Autism Program. The MCPS team wants to meet for "Evaluation Planning" to determine whether "the additional data is needed" DS's evalution is due this year. MCPS indicated they will likely suggest that we can just use his evaluations from 3 years ago when he was still in ES and not go through an additional evaluation. This is the first time I see them trying to do this. It strikes me as completely wrong. I mean, DS is now a teenager and lots happened in the last three years. His eval from 3 years ago is irrelevant. Not to mention, back then, the observation was done in December and we did not get an actual report until August (so 9 months later) and a lawyer had to get involved. I believe the report was created under the legal pressure based on the psychologist's 9 months recall and is not particularly accurate. Did anyone had a similar experience that you can share? Is it even legal?

[Anonymous]

This can be a good thing if you are happy with the placement and current services. New test results give them a chance to reduce services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This can be a good thing if you are happy with the placement and current services. New test results give them a chance to reduce services.

This. Plus, in order to get new evals, you need more than “but they are three years old”.

[Anonymous]

The purpose of a reevaluation is to determine if they still meet special ed eligibility criteria. They are saying that they have enough data to say your child continues to qualify without needing additional testing. That's a good thing in terms of keeping services; sounds like no one is trying to pull supports back.

If you think there are questions that need to be answered in order to determine eligibility (e.g., do you think they might qualify under a new category?) then you should push for it. If you believe autism continues to be the most appropriate label, then there is no need for updated testing.

[Anonymous]

My daughter got tested in 3rd for initial eligibility and then did not get tested again until 12th when we requested updated testing for college accommodations. I had no problem with this as she continued to meet eligibility requirements.

I don’t see them as trying to pull one over you. There are limited resources. If your child does not need updated information, why do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This can be a good thing if you are happy with the placement and current services. New test results give them a chance to reduce services.

Yes. I've usually only seen school teams ask for evals when they want to REDUCE or get rid of services. I'm sure there are more ethical people out there but not in my experience.

[Anonymous]

You are part of the school team and make a case for additional testing. Just make sure you lay out your reasons like he's struggling in a certain area and you don't know why, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter got tested in 3rd for initial eligibility and then did not get tested again until 12th when we requested updated testing for college accommodations. I had no problem with this as she continued to meet eligibility requirements.

I don’t see them as trying to pull one over you. There are limited resources. If your child does not need updated information, why do it?

Thanks for your reply! They pulled many over my DS before. I am naturally uncomfortable with MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This can be a good thing if you are happy with the placement and current services. New test results give them a chance to reduce services.

This. Plus, in order to get new evals, you need more than “but they are three years old”.

Refer to the original post

[Anonymous]

First, I believe IEP re-evaluations are required by federal law to take place every 3 years, but whether they are supposed to be complete or partial (meaning only rely on teacher input) I am not sure about. That being said, I'm somewhat on the opposite end of the argument than other posters. My DS was initially tested in 1st grade and had a re-eval last year. However, the school relied on old information, despite the fact we kept pushing that we felt like there were additional issues keeping him from learning. After the re-eval, we sought an IEE. That report just came back with several learning disabilities that could have been identified or at least we would have known more evaluations were needed if the school had done the complete re-evaluation. I think it depends on whether your feel like your child is truly progressing or if there are issues. Honestly, if his last eval was elementary school and he is now a teenager, I'd do the re-eval. Even if that means lessening of services - which the eval would show he does not need - you are working with more information than you have at this point. More information, in my opinion, is always better.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is completely legal to propose it and go through with it, although obviously you have to consent.

Do you feel more information is needed in order to determine if your child continues to qualify for special education services? Do you think there is another disability area the team should be looking at? If yes, then you should push the eval. If no, what would be your reasoning for wanting additional assessments?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, I believe IEP re-evaluations are required by federal law to take place every 3 years, but whether they are supposed to be complete or partial (meaning only rely on teacher input) I am not sure about. That being said, I'm somewhat on the opposite end of the argument than other posters. My DS was initially tested in 1st grade and had a re-eval last year. However, the school relied on old information, despite the fact we kept pushing that we felt like there were additional issues keeping him from learning. After the re-eval, we sought an IEE. That report just came back with several learning disabilities that could have been identified or at least we would have known more evaluations were needed if the school had done the complete re-evaluation. I think it depends on whether your feel like your child is truly progressing or if there are issues. Honestly, if his last eval was elementary school and he is now a teenager, I'd do the re-eval. Even if that means lessening of services - which the eval would show he does not need - you are working with more information than you have at this point. More information, in my opinion, is always better.

You are mistaken. Eligibility needs to be determined every three years. Evaluations may or may not be necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This can be a good thing if you are happy with the placement and current services. New test results give them a chance to reduce services.

This. Plus, in order to get new evals, you need more than “but they are three years old”.

Refer to the original post

The original post basically just says they are old. You need more than that. I don’t know if you need new evals or not - apparently not to qualify for the IEP. But if you think you do, you have to be able to articulate the basis for the need. So for example, if your kid is in third grade and struggling with writing numbers and letters, an OT eval may be necessary because by third grade you’d expect this to have resolved.

[Anonymous]

You should contact the Parents Place of MD.

[Anonymous]

Re-evaluation is required by law every 3 years. This means the team must meet and look at existing data and decide whether additional data is needed to determine continued eligibility or if more data is needed to make decision about services. Assessments are not required as part of this process, unless the current data is insufficient to determine the aforementioned items. If testing is completed and the student is no longer found eligible, your child could lose services. They are not required to complete assessments unless they suspect that the child's eligibility has changed (no longer qualifying, services should be reduced, new services should be added, etc.)