Pre-referral Process for SPED

Step 1: Recognition

The student's teacher, parent, or other school staff member recognize an academic or behavioral challenge in the student

The student's teacher and the student's parents should meet to discuss the challenges, and strategies to help that student

RTI/MTSS Strategies are also used at this time, as well as differentiation

Teacher should collect data on the student to keep track of improvement or lack of

Parents should stay informed

TEACHER MUST NOT MENTION SPECIAL EDUCATION AT ALL in reference to the student

If the data collected does not show improvement in the student's challenge, then step 2 will begin

Step 2: Pre-referral

More accommodations are suggested by school staff

Parents must be informed of the accommodations and data

After data has been collected, school staff will determine if the student should be evaluated, or if the accommodations are working for the student.

Step 3: Referral

If the data shows that the accommodations are not working, then the team (teacher(s), school counselor, any other staff involved in working with the student) will decide to move to referral

Data must be collected by the general education teacher. If not enough data is collected, then step 4 cannot begin

IF THE NEXT STEP IS GOING TO START: PARENTS MUST GIVE CONSENT

Step 4: Evaluation

Once parent consent is given, the evaluation begins

The district has 45-60 days to evaluate the student

Teacher continues to use different accommodations and strategies for the student so data is still collected

All involved staff members and the student's parents are interviewed

Observations will also occur by involved staff members

Step 5: Eligibility

A notice will be sent to parents, and an eligibility meeting will occur within 10 days of the notice

The data will be shown to parents, and they will be told about the two prongs for eligibility

First prong: Does the data show that the student has a disability under IDEA?

Second prong: Does the data show that the student needs specialized instruction?

Every person at the meeting must agree or dissent about the data supported the prongs

If both prongs are met: Members of the team will discuss an IEP

If one prong is met: Members of the team will discuss a 504 Plan

Step 6: Initial IEP Meeting

The meeting must occur within 30 days

The entire team from the eligibility meeting must be present at the IEP meeting

The day the IEP is signed, is the day that the IEP is implemented

If the student is over 14 years old, they are included in the meeting

Step 7: IEP Reviews

Every year, the IEP will be reviewed by the IEP team

If the goals from the IEP are met, the IEP goals MUST be updated

Every three years, the team will reevaluate if the student continues to needs the IEP