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Evaluation Process
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Step One: CHILD FIND
The school district must locate, identify and evaluate unserved and underserved children with disabilities. Parents can request an evaluation by the school district OR the school district can request an evaluation. The request can be written or verbal, but parental consent is required prior to evaulation. The evaluation must be completed within 45 school working days from the date the parent gives consent. -
Step Two: DISPOSITION OF REFERRAL
In the state of New Hampshire, 15 calendar days after a school receives a referral for special education services the IEP team conducts a disposition of referral meeting. Participants include; parent, LEA, SPED teacher, general eduation teacher, a teacher certified in the area of the suspected disability and others deemed appropriate. The team makes a decision based off of all relevant data available on the child. -
Step Three: EVALUATION
Written parental consent is required for evaluation. The evaluation must assess the child in all areas related to the child's suspected disability. The team deceides if there is an educational disability supported by an IEP or a disability affecting one or more major life functions supported by Section 504 or none of the above. The evaluation must be completed within 45 calendar days. -
Step Four: ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
In order for a child to qualify for an IEP, there must be an educational disability that is the result of one of the 13 specific categories identified in IDEA. Once eligibiliy is determined a WPN (Written Prior Notice) is provided to the parent, it includes: what was proposed/refused, why, options considered, documentation based on, reasons why rejected, other factors and copy of parental rights. IEP team has 30 days to begin writing the IEP. -
Step Five: IEP
The IEP team begins to create a written education plan that entails; present level of academic achievement and functional performance, measurable goals, benchmarks or short term objectives, SPED/related services provided, modifications/accomodations provided, list of individuals responsible for implementing the IEP and signatures from parent and LEA (school district). -
Step Six: PLACEMENT
Once the IEP has been approved and signed by the school and parent. Placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE) is determined. Children with disabilities are to be educated in the regular classroom with children who do not have disbabilities to the extent appropriate to meet their educational needs. The range of placement in LRE is the regular classroom to the most restrictive environment which is hospial or institutional setting. -
Step Seven: PROGRESS MONITORING
Over the course of the school year regular review of the child's school work and progress toward annual goals should be tracked. Home-school communication must be maintained via communication logs, phone calls or conferences. IDEA requires a 3 year review of the IEP, however New Hampshire requires an annual review of the IEP.