Chapter 5: Evaluation: Learning More About Your Child - Página 3

Additional requirements for evaluations were added in IDEA 2004. Now assessments must be provided and administered in the language and form most likely to yield accurate information on what the student knows and can do academically, developmentally and functionally. For example, the assessments should be administered in Spanish, or Braille, or sign language, if that's the student's usual mode of communication.

In addition to the results of the evaluation procedures conducted as required above, an initial evaluation must also include any existing data on your child, such as:

• Information and data collected during pre-referral interventions or a response-to-intervention process (as described in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2)
• Evaluations and information provided by the parents
• Current classroom-based, local or state assessment results
• Observations by teachers, school psychologists and related service providers (such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists).

Evaluation and Response-to-Intervention (RTI) As noted in Chapter 2: Response-to-Intervention, the data collected during RTI are included as part of the evaluation results and are used to make eligibility decisions. However, IDEA requires multiple sources of data and does not allow any single measure or assessment to be used as the sole criterion for determining whether your child has a disability or for determining an appropriate educational program for your child. A school district may propose to use an RTI process while conducting an evaluation (as required by IDEA) of your child. Together, RTI and formal evaluation provide information about your child's academic skills, rate of learning and the underlying reasons for his or her learning difficulties. You are free to request a formal evaluation at any time. School district policies regarding RTI should not be used to delay or deny your request for evaluation.

Private Evaluations at Private Expense

You are free to have your child evaluated privately at your own expense at any time. If you have had any private testing conducted on your child at your own expense or through private insurance, you should provide the results to the school at this stage. To ensure reliable results, it is important that your child not be administered the same test within a short period of time. Making the school aware of private testing results is important if the school district is to construct an appropriate evaluation plan.

Before scheduling a private evaluation, you should carefully review the credentials of the evaluator. Make sure that:

• The individual who conducts the evaluation meets state requirements (e.g., holds a state license)
• The evaluator will provide a very detailed written report that may include recommendations for support and/or services that will address your child's needs
• The evaluator will provide you with a full explanation of the findings so you can explain and support them while discussing the report with the school
• The school district generally accepts evaluations from this individual
• The evaluator is willing to attend school meetings to explain results and the reasons for recommendations.

Finalizing Plans for Evaluation

After you review the school district's proposed Evaluation Notice, meet with a school representative, review the evaluation requirements above, and share any private testing results, you'll need to reach agreement on the proposed evaluation plan.

As the parent, you are free to object to certain tests or assessments and/or to request that additional tests or assessments be added to the plan. If you reject the plan, you will need to work with the school district to develop a plan that is more appropriate for your child and addresses your concerns. If the school district does not agree to your changes, you have the right to refuse your consent or to use the dispute resolution options described in Chapter 11: Dispute Resolution Options. Likewise, if the district feels the original plan was appropriate, it can choose to utilize available dispute resolution options.

Remember that the evaluation results will be used to make important decisions about your child's education. Also remember that, as specified in your Procedural Safeguards Notice described in Chapter 4, you have the right to an outside or independent educational evaluation (IEE) if you disagree with the results of the district's evaluation.
Once you and the school district have agreed on the evaluation plan and all of its components, the evaluation will be completed by school personnel.