Does DCPS do special education evaluations over the summer?
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Anonymous
| I have researched this and can't figure it out. I'm trying to help friends get the ball rolling this week with a request and want to give them a heads up what to expect. Thank you! |
Anonymous
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The regulatory timeline doesn't stop and they have a summer team of psychologists. But they will complain and moan and say it's not possible or appropriate.
-special ed lawyer |
Anonymous
As I understand it, once the parent makes a request, the MDT has 30 days to have that initial AED? And the parent should be present? If the AED decides evaluations are warranted, they have 60 days to do it? I don't think the family can afford a lawyer but I am hoping they can get an advocate from AJE. Thank you so much |
Anonymous
The central office would do it, right? Personally I think we got a much better initial IEP from the central office than we would have from the school. I also planned it so that it would be done while my kid was still in private PK4, which meant at that time we were routed to the central office instead our IB K. |
Anonymous
Yes, that's accurate. They will complain that the teachers who know your child aren't available to be at a summer AED. If you think you are able to make your case for why you suspect a disability without the teacher, you can waive their attendance. |
Anonymous
The school already reached out either this year or last. The parent now wants to follow up. The child is entering third grade so it seems to me starting all this now is probably more important than the teacher being there. I also think the child may have CAPD/ will need specialized auditory testing that will take extra time. The family is resourced strapped and there is limited bandwidth or understanding. So I think start now and waive teacher presence makes sense? What do you think? Thank you SO MUCH |
Anonymous
I agree -- if the family waits until fall, there won't be an IEP in place until January. They should also ask their pediatrician to a referral for the audiology testing, because I wouldn't trust dcps to do that well (and it is likely covered by insurance). If the family's limited understanding is due from language needs, dcps is required to provide an interpreter and translated documents. |
Anonymous
PP thank you so much. I think they need to request a developmental screening at the pediatrician, too. Could they ask for an audiology referral at the same time? They go to Mary's Center in case it matters |
Anonymous
| How do they get PLOPs in a summer eval? |
Anonymous
I don't see why not. There is a long waiting list for such evaluations at Children's. |
Anonymous
You need PLOPs when writing the IEP, but that comes after the evaluations. |
Anonymous
The summer evaluation team can do that. |
Anonymous
And PLOPs are usually drawn either from the most recent evaluation (which the summer team does) or the most recent standardized testing (which the summer team has access to). |
Anonymous
| It might be different where I live but teams have 30 SCHOOL days from the time of signature to complete a special education evaluation. We are not required to complete this in the summer. In fact from the time the parent makes a request we have 10 days to set up a meeting then at the meeting we decide if an evaluation is appropriate. If yes we have 10 school days to create a plan to evaluate. Once the parent signs the plan there it’s the thirty student contact days to complete the evaluation. If the student qualifies we have 30 days after the evaluation date to have an IEP meeting. After the IEP meeting we have 10 student contact days to write the IEP. If it’s an initial IEP it must be signed before services start. |
Anonymous
IDEA, which covers IEPs, requires all 3 steps be completed within 90 calendar days. Not school days. You could find yourself at the wrong end of a lawsuit if you go by school/student contact days. |