Chapter 3: Referrals and Evaluations

Evaluations

An evaluation is a form of testing or assessment used to help the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET) find out more about the student's ability and achievement levels. Information is collected from a variety of sources as part of this process. The report should offer recommendations that can be used by the PET.

There are four different points at which evaluations may be done:

• To determine the student's eligibility for special education (initial evaluation);
• To determine the student's continued eligibility for special education (reevaluation);
• To assess the student's progress and determine what additional supports and modifications may be needed; and
• To determine if the student should be placed on monitoring status.

Initial Evaluation

When the PET convenes a meeting to determine eligibility for special education, it will review a variety of information from the parent and school personnel. The PET may also decide that it needs additional information in order to make a decision. If this is the case, the PET will identify which evaluations must be done.

The school needs written parental permission (consent) for the initial evaluation to be done. The school provides the parent with a consent form for the initial evaluation within 15 school days of the written referral.

Timeline for Parent Consent Form School provides consent form within 15 school days of written referral.

 

It is important to understand that the evaluation process will not begin until the parent signs the consent form.

 

Consent Form Continued

Once the consent form has been signed, the school has 45 school days to complete the evaluation(s) and reconvene a PET to discuss the results.

Timeline for Evaluations Evaluations recommended by PET completed and PET reconvened within 45 school days.

Any evaluations ordered by the PET must be done at no cost to the family. The school may ask to use the parent's private insurance to pay for the evaluations. The decision to agree or disagree to use private insurance does not change the timeline for evaluations to be completed.

Additional Evaluations

Additional Evaluations may be used to assess the student's progress or revise the Individual Education Program (IEP). Consent will not be needed for additional evaluations related to the identified area of concern. The parent will receive written prior notice of these evaluation(s) with the name and description of each area to be evaluated.

Re-Evaluation

Parental written consent is also required in the case of reevaluation. Reevaluation is typically conducted at least once every three years or more often, as needed. The purpose of reevaluation is to determine the student's continued eligibility to receive special education. Any such reevaluation must follow the same regulations and professional standards as the initial evaluation.

FMI: See MSER, Chapter 101, Section 9.9.

Monitoring

Evaluations must also be done before a student can be placed on monitoring status. Monitoring status is limited to one year.

“Monitoring services shall include regular observations and meetings between a certified special education teacher or certified special education consultant, the student and the student’s teacher(s) to discuss the student’s program and progress. The frequency of these meetings shall be determined by the PET but will be no less than quarterly. Monitoring services shall be included in the student’s Individualized Education Program and the student shall be counted as part of the special education teacher’s caseload. Monitoring services shall be limited to no more than one year.” (MSER, Chapter 101, Section 5.3, p. 21)