Eligibility Procedures

Once the comprehensive evaluation is completed, an eligibility meeting will be scheduled prior to the eligibility due date.

The eligibility team will determine whether or not the student is eligible for special education services. The eligibility meeting provides an opportunity for all parties involved in the education of the student to meet to review the data and provide input to determine if the student meets eligibility requirements as indicated in the state special education rules.

The parent is included on the team and is provided a copy of the evaluation report as well as a copy of the eligibility report/decision. The eligibility report is the documentation that verifies if the student is or is not eligible for special education services. If the student is found to meet eligibility requirements, then the individualized education plan must be developed within 30 days of the initial eligibility meeting. Once it is developed, the parent must sign consent for placement for special education services prior to implementation of the plan. If the student does not meet eligibility for special education, regular education options should be discussed and the student will be referred to the tiers of intervention for follow up and placement.

The parents must be notified of the proposed date, time, and location of an eligibility / individualized education plan meeting to give them sufficient time to make arrangements to attend or contact the school to reschedule the meeting. The case manager will set up the eligibility meeting, and the school will send home formal notice of the meeting. The school district must give the parents every opportunity for a convenient, mutually agreed upon meeting time as well as the option to reschedule so that the parents may attend.

An individualized education plan is required for each student that is eligible for special education and is reviewed at least annually. For initial referrals, the plan must be developed within 30 days of the initial eligibility meeting is the student is found to be eligible for special education services. The plan is developed to meet the special needs of the student as identified by the assessments, observations, and other data collected during the referral process. The individualized education plan is developed after the student is determined eligible for services.

If a student is determined eligible for special education and an individualized education plan developed, the parent must sign parental consent for placement before services and the individualized education plan can be implemented. Parental Consent for Placement is only required to be signed for initial placement in special education.  If the parent is present at the initial individualized education plan meeting, the team should obtain the parent's signature at the end of the meeting. If the parent is not present, the case manager will send the parent a copy of the eligibility report, the individualized education plan, psychological report, parental rights, and parental consent for placement form for review and signature. If the parent does not attend, the date for initiation of services must be at least 10 days from the date of the individualized education plan meeting in order to allow proper notice and an opportunity for the parent to respond and return the parent consent for placement form. If the parent agrees to consent for placement, the plan will be implemented on the start date. If the parent does not agree for services, the plan will not be implemented.