Question about process for special education services

[Anonymous]

I'm confused by the process of evaluation for special education services. My child just started preschool and struggled a lot the first few weeks of school with everything - speaking, paying attention, potty training, etc. We ended up meeting with the school to get her evaluated to see if she needs speech therapy and other services. It's just taking forever - we won't meet about the evaluations until January. Is there a required time frame for the process? We are in a charter school if that makes a difference.

Until school started we were unaware of any issues...she is not the most verbal, but her development has been within the normal range for all the milestones they ask about at the pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Charter or public makes no difference. There are clear guidelines governing special ed services and evaluations -- when you met with the school they should have given you a document outlining "Procedural Safeguards" which outlines some of them. You should always make requests for evaluations and the like in writing and all meetings should have notes taken so that everyone is clear on the timelines (e.g. if the plan was to have an SLP evaluate your child the notes should reflect the date by which a written evaluation would be complete and a meeting to discuss findings and any needed remediation would be held. If that didn't happen there is no reason why you shouldn't send a letter asking for the status.

Generally speaking 60-90 days is not an unusual amount of time to get initial evaluations done -- and only school days count. Depending on your circumstances you can also get evaluations done yourself (at your cost) and present them to teh school. Can be faster -- but schools do not always need to adhere those recommendations (ours always did).

Suggest spending time on this website http://www.wrightslaw.com which has great information, templates and explains the jargon really well.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My son's charter was much quicker since everyone is there. Try to talk to the director of student support services to speed the process along.

[Anonymous]

We went through this last year at our charter. DC law has allowed 120 days for the eval, though Catania got leg passed to tighten that timeframe. I don't know when that takes effect. When did you request the eval? Or when did you sign the paperwork? It sounds like they are within the timeframe since there have not been 120 days of school yet.

Try to hang in there! Since things are ok at home you just have to get through the next week of school. Is the eligibility meeting scheduled for right after you come back? Do you feel like they are doing a thorough eval?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused- was your child already in a special ED preschool and you are trying to get more services? Because typically at the preschool level you need to go through Child Find and not the school to get services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused- was your child already in a special ED preschool and you are trying to get more services? Because typically at the preschool level you need to go through Child Find and not the school to get services.

Not in DC. Since DC has free preschool for kids without disabilities, kids who are enrolled there go through the same process as school aged kids.

DC also has a childfind program called "Early Stages", but it's for kids who are not currently enrolled in public school.

[Anonymous]

I recently went through this. Here is what I understand

Send an email formally requesting an evaluation. Do not say that you want speech services as a service is a specific accomodation. You want to state what your concerns are and that these are impacting your child's ability to fully participate in the classroom.

After you submit the request, the school should acknowledge the note and start the data gathering phase.

There should next be a meeting for AED - Analyzing Existing Data. In this meeting you will review observations from people who work with your child and determine if you should proceed with a formal assessment.

You will need to be informed and approve all of the formal assessments - this may be a speech therapist doing an assessment or other specialists doing assessments.

After all of the assessments are done, they will summarize the findings and you will have an eligibility determination meeting. At this meeting the specialists and teachers share their findings and there is a determination if your child qualifies for Special Education

[Anonymous]

I recently went through this. Here is what I understand the process is.

Send an email formally requesting an evaluation. Do not say that you want speech services as a service is a specific accommodation. You want to state what your concerns are and that these are impacting your child's ability to fully participate in the classroom.

After you submit the request, the school should acknowledge the note and start the data gathering phase.

There should next be a meeting for AED - Analyzing Existing Data. In this meeting you will review observations from people who work with your child and determine if you should proceed with a formal assessment.

You will need to be informed and approve all of the formal assessments - this may be a speech therapist doing an assessment or other specialists doing assessments.

After all of the assessments are done, they will summarize the findings and you will have an eligibility determination meeting. At this meeting the specialists and teachers share their findings and there is a determination if your child qualifies for Special Education.

After a determination is made, the next step is to determine what services your child will need. This is through the IEP.

This entire process needs to be completed in 120 days. I found this document very help in understanding the process:
http://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/Part%20B%20Initial%20Evaluation%20Reevaluation%20Policy.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC also has a childfind program called "Early Stages", but it's for kids who are not currently enrolled in public school.

Early Stages DOES work with children up to age 5 yrs old in both charters and DCPS.

OP, register online even if you have spoken to your school.

http://www.earlystagesdc.org/for-families/downloads/early-stages-faqs

At your school, email the principal and the LEA, the person responsible for special education compliance at your school, and ask them to speak with you ASAP.

Also, mention this to your pediatrician. Ours had good suggestions and helped speed up evaluations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused- was your child already in a special ED preschool and you are trying to get more services? Because typically at the preschool level you need to go through Child Find and not the school to get services.

Not in DC. Since DC has free preschool for kids without disabilities, kids who are enrolled there go through the same process as school aged kids.

DC also has a childfind program called "Early Stages", but it's for kids who are not currently enrolled in public school.

Wrong wrong and wrong. Early stages does the evals for ALL CHILDREN in DC between the ages of 3 and 5, regardless of whether they are in school.

[Anonymous]

That wasn't our experience. The school did the eval. I believe early stages does the eval for DCPS students but charters that are their own Local Education Agency do their own eval, typically through a contractor.

Advocates for Justice and Education should be able to help you with advice, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused- was your child already in a special ED preschool and you are trying to get more services? Because typically at the preschool level you need to go through Child Find and not the school to get services.

Not in DC. Since DC has free preschool for kids without disabilities, kids who are enrolled there go through the same process as school aged kids.

DC also has a childfind program called "Early Stages", but it's for kids who are not currently enrolled in public school.

Wrong wrong and wrong. Early stages does the evals for ALL CHILDREN in DC between the ages of 3 and 5, regardless of whether they are in school.

That's incorrect.
I'm a special education teacher at a DC Charter. My daughter started her eval through Early Stages before she enrolled in school. The minute she officially enrolled at a charter, Early Stages transferred her file to the charter since they became her Local Education Agency. Early Stages is the LEA for DCPS or students not enrolled in school. If the child is enrolled in a charter school, then more than likely the charter is its own LEA.

To answer the OP's question:
The law requires that children be evaluated with 60 calendar days. This year we've barely skated in under that time limit due to the number of kids being evaluated. We've also had some people drop the ball and not properly communicate what needs to be done. As a parent, I'd advise you to stay on top of things, put everything in writing, and keep asking questions. Also, advocate, advocate, advocate! Make sure your child gets the services that he or she needs and don't allow the school to low-ball. I've seen some kids have their services reduced, because the school didn't have the resources at hand. The law requires them to purchase or hire whatever is needed within reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused- was your child already in a special ED preschool and you are trying to get more services? Because typically at the preschool level you need to go through Child Find and not the school to get services.

Not in DC. Since DC has free preschool for kids without disabilities, kids who are enrolled there go through the same process as school aged kids.

DC also has a childfind program called "Early Stages", but it's for kids who are not currently enrolled in public school.

Wrong wrong and wrong. Early stages does the evals for ALL CHILDREN in DC between the ages of 3 and 5, regardless of whether they are in school.

Early Stages may do the evals for DCPS kids, and kids in charters for whom DCPS is the LEA, but it does not do evals for LEA charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused by the process of evaluation for special education services. My child just started preschool and struggled a lot the first few weeks of school with everything - speaking, paying attention, potty training, etc. We ended up meeting with the school to get her evaluated to see if she needs speech therapy and other services. It's just taking forever - we won't meet about the evaluations until January. Is there a required time frame for the process? We are in a charter school if that makes a difference.

Until school started we were unaware of any issues...she is not the most verbal, but her development has been within the normal range for all the milestones they ask about at the pediatrician.

Definitely keep the pediatrician informed about the situation and ask for their opinion about anything the school says to you. Pediatricians have experience with many different schools and childcare settings that could help you in determining a good learning environment for your child.

You can also check out the DCUM forum on Kids with Special Needs for help with evaluation process questions and deciphering special education jargon.

Best of luck.