The Special Education Process Step-by-Step
Step 3: Evaluation
Step 3: Evaluation
What happens?
• The student is evaluated using a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional, academic and developmental information, including information provided by the parent, that may assist in determining:
• whether the child meets the federal definition of a “child with a disability” and
• the content of the child’s IEP, including information related to enabling the child to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum or, for preschool children, to participate in appropriate activities;
This may include:
- review of existing evaluation data;
- evaluations and information provided by the parents;
- current classroom-based assessments and observations; and
- observations by teachers and related service providers.
The child is assessed in all areas related to suspected disability, including:
- health, vision and hearing, & motor abilities
- language dominance and communicative status
- sociological and emotional status
- academic performance
- general intelligence
Results of these assessments are compiled into a report called the EVALUATION.
Who is involved?
• The family, student, and individuals with relevant information regarding the student.
• Qualified personnel such as an educational diagnostician or associate school psychologist, special and/or regular education teacher, speech language pathologist, and other related service personnel may be involved depending upon the suspected disability.
What is the timeline?
• The school district must conduct a full individual evaluation within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation, or, within a timeline established by the state. Currently, Texas uses the timeline of 60 calendar days.
• The school shall ensure that a reevaluation is conducted if:
• the school determines that the educational or related services needs, including improved academic achievement and functional performance of the child, warrant reevaluation, or if the child’s parents or teacher requests a reevaluation.
• A reevaluation shall occur:
• not more frequently than once a year, unless the parent and school agree otherwise; and
• at least once every 3 years, unless the parent and the school agree a reevaluation is unnecessary.
For more information on Evaluation and Reevaluation Procedures in IDEA 2004:
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalBrief%2C4%2C
Go to next step
Step 1: Request
Step 2: Notice of Rights
Step 3: Evaluation
Step 4: ARD/IEP Planning Conference
Step 5 & 6: The ARD/IEP Meeting
Step 7: On-going Assessment and Data Collection
Step 8: Examine Data and Make Recommendations
Texas Project FIRST is an activity of the Texas Continuing Improvement Process (TCIP) under the auspices of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Region 9 Education Service Center, and is focused on helping to fulfill the goals of TEA and the Parent Training Committee
TEA Parent Information Line 1-800-252-9668
Texas Project FIRST - A project of Family To Family Network - Contact Web Administrator
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