My child is eligible for special education. Now what?
The special education eligibility process can be time consuming and confusing. Often, it can take up to 3 months from the time you initially request an evaluation until the eligibility meeting takes place. So much energy is spent preparing for that meeting and making sure that you have all of the information you need to be a productive member of the team. Then the meeting happens and the team finds your child eligible for Special Education. And you realize that you are not quite sure what that means moving forward. You know that your child will be getting services and accommodations that they need. But outside of that? You are not really confident about what the process looks like and what you can expect.
You are not alone. This is something that we often hear from parents and caregivers. So, we put together this “now what” list to help you understand a little better what to anticipate now that your child receives the support of special education.
The first thing that will happen is that you will receive a draft of the IEP (Individualized Education Program) to review. You have options (and 30 days) to accept the plan in full, reject the plan or partially accept and sign. You will also be able to accept or reject the placement proposed by the school team. All of these pieces should be discussed at the eligibility meeting. The IEP will include the following:
A summary of the evaluations completed.
Your parent concerns statement which you can send in an email after the meeting if you wish.
A vision for your child.
Measurable annual goals with objectives.
Accommodations.
A service delivery grid that outlines exactly how much of each service your child gets and where (inside the classroom, outside the classroom, etc.)
Information about your child’s participation in district and state assessments.
And more!
Your child will have a liaison who is responsible for facilitating any IEP meetings or team meeting. This is your go-to person if you have any questions about your child’s plan.
Progress reports are delivered to you as often as you receive a report card for your child. These are different from the progress reports that every child receives. IEP Progress Reports focus on the measurable annual goals that are outlined for your child and the progress they are making towards reaching those goals.
Annual review meetings are scheduled every year on or before the date the initial meeting was held. So if your meeting was October 30th for instance, you can expect to meet next school year on or before October 30th to review and update the IEP. At this meeting, the school team will review the previous year, update goals, and determine what changes and additions should be made to your child’s IEP in order for them to make progress.
Reevaluations typically occur every 3 years. At this point, updated assessments and evaluations will be completed and the results shared with you prior to meeting with the team. During this meeting, the team will determine if your child still meets the criteria for special education eligibility and if so will update their plan (IEP) to reflect any new information.
Some notes:
You do not have to wait for an Annual Review or Reevaluation meeting if you have concerns. Especially while you are still newly navigating this process, you will likely have questions. Do not be afraid to reach out to your child’s liaison with any questions and to schedule a progress meeting if there is a need.
Special Education is governed by IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). Here is a link if you want to dive more into the law: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/about-idea/
You should receive a Procedural Safeguards Handbook from your child’s school team that outlines your rights as a parent in this process. Reach out and ask for them to send you it if you have not.
Still have questions? Reach out to us and schedule a 20 minute consultation!
