The first step in identifying a student with a suspected disability, and in need of special education and related services is in the evaluation of the student. This is done by members of a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team, or MET. This team is made up of educational specialists with knowledge in the area of your child’s suspected disability. These may be teachers, school psychologists, speech therapists and social workers.
The MET will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your child. This team will review important information such as school records, test results, medical history, and information you may provide about your child. If you have had any outside evaluations of your child, it would be good to share them with the MET.
Once the MET evaluation is finished, a written report with an eligibility recommendation is presented at an Individualized Educational Planning Team, or IEPT meeting. Using the evaluation information, the team determines whether or not your child is eligible for special education.
During the MET process, you have the right to:
- Give written approval before your child is evaluated;
- Have an initial evaluation conducted by a multidisciplinary evaluation team. This evaluation must be completed within 30 school days after the school has received your written permission to evaluate. This time line begins upon receipt of the signed parental consent by the public agency requesting it and may be extended if agreed to by the parent and the public agency.
- Within 10 calendar days of receipt of a referral of a student suspected of having a disability, and before any formal evaluation designed to determine eligibility for special education programs and services, the public agency shall notify the parent and shall request written consent to evaluate.
- During the evaluation process, you also have the right to have more than one test or evaluation procedure used to determine eligibility and the appropriate education program for your child;
- Be assured testing does not discriminate on the basis of language or culture;
- Be notified of each evaluation procedure, test, record or report the IEP team uses in determining eligibility and need for special education programs or services;
- In addition, during the evaluation process, you have the right to have a vocational evaluation before your child receives vocational education; and
- Have a re-evaluation every three years, or more frequently if conditions warrant, or if you or the educator request it, but not more than once a year.
The eligibility evaluation is very important. Make sure to offer the team all the information you can concerning your child. Also, it is important to remember that testing can be stressful for many children. Reassure your child about the process.
At the conclusion of the evaluation, the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team must present their findings to the parent. The team will then determine during this meeting whether or not the student is eligible for special education services.
Phone code: 1609
Recent Comments