IEP Eligibility Determination Process

The first step a parent can make for children to access special education services is to contact the Executive Director or special education department to request an IEP evaluation. Parents must provide their concerns in writing and communicate relevant information about their child’s needs. Parents do not need a specific diagnosis; instead, they simply must provide the school district with a written request for an evaluation while sharing relevant concerns. 

The school district will respond to the request and then has 60 calendar days to complete the evaluation at no cost to the parent and to provide the parents with a written report. The evaluation process includes gathering information/ observations from teachers, parents, and other professionals. A comprehensive set of assessments is completed to evaluate the child’s needs, and specific testing must be completed in the suspected area of disability. A psychologist and other specialists will provide a variety of assessments including achievement tests, processing assessments, and possibly speech and language evaluations or occupational therapy evaluations. After the report is completed, an initial IEP meeting will be scheduled and the reports will be reviewed to determine eligibility for special education services.