Chapter 6: Eligibility Determination
Determining Your Child's Need for Special Education
Who is this for? This chapter is for parents whose child has already been formally evaluated for special education services. It covers the procedures for making a decision about whether the student, based on the information gathered through the evaluation process, is eligible to receive special education services as required by IDEA.
Why is this important? Determining eligibility for special education involves a number of important considerations. For students suspected of having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD), IDEA requires that schools use several procedures that are in addition to the eligibility determination procedures used for all students suspected of a disability.
What can parents do? For parents, the process to determine eligibility for an SLD can be confusing, especially since IDEA 2004 made significant changes to this process. Parents need to understand how their child’s school will go about deciding whether their child has a specific learning disability that requires special education services. Parents should be prepared to discuss their child’s evaluation results and provide information that will assist with the eligibility decision.
Words and Terms to Know
Child with a disability: A child who has a disability as defined by one of the 13 disability categories in IDEA and who needs special education and related services because of the disability; or a child aged three through nine who is experiencing developmental delay.
Eligibility: The determination that a student is a child with a disability as defined by IDEA.
Note: The IDEA Parent Guide was created to provide a basic understanding of the key requirements of the federal law under IDEA. The information presented here is not legal advice and should not be used as a legal resource.
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