Evaluation
Support Services for Struggling Students
For students experiencing difficulty in the regular classroom, all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools must consider tutorial, compensatory, and other academic or behavioral support services available to all students, including processes based on Response to Intervention (RtI). Proper implementation of RtI can help districts and charters better meet the needs of all struggling students.
If a student is experiencing learning difficulties, their parent may contact the individual(s) listed below to learn about the school's general education referral or screening system. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referrals for special education or Section 504 evaluations to determine whether specific aids, accommodations, or services are needed. A parent may request an evaluation at any time.
What is the Evaluation Process?
Students must be evaluated to determine whether they have a disability and require specially designed instruction. Under IDEA, this evaluation must be:
- Non-discriminatory
- Conducted by a multidisciplinary team
- Comprehensive and valid
Most evaluations include both formal and informal assessments in the following areas:
- Cognitive Abilities (including intelligence)
- Academic Skills (achievement)
- Social/Emotional Competence (including behavior)
- Communication Skills
- Physical, Health, and Medical Status
Parents may obtain private evaluations. However, these often lack multidisciplinary input and comprehensiveness. While the ARD committee must consider them, they may not provide enough information to determine eligibility or guide programming effectively.
Special Education Referrals
If a parent submits a written request for an initial evaluation for special education services to the director of special education or another school administrator, the district or charter school must:
- Respond within 15 school days
- Provide prior written notice of its decision
- Include a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards
If the school agrees to evaluate, it must give the parent an opportunity to provide written consent. The evaluation must then be completed within:
- 45 school days from the date of written consent
- If the student is absent 3 or more days, the timeline extends by the number of absences
End-of-Year Exception
If consent is received 35–44 school days before the end of the year, the report must be completed and provided to the parent by June 30. However, if the student is absent 3 or more days during this period, the standard 45-day rule (plus extensions for absences) applies.
Once the evaluation is complete, the parent must receive a copy of the evaluation report at no cost.
Additional information can be found in the companion document titled Parents’ Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process.
Dyslexia Evaluation Resources
Contact Person for Special Education Referrals
Parents with questions or concerns about a student experiencing learning difficulties or seeking a referral for evaluation should contact the campus administrator or campus diagnostician.