Preston County Schools shall conduct an initial multidisciplinary evaluation of a referred student and conduct reevaluations of the student to determine the student's educational needs.
3.1.1. General Responsibilities
a. Preston County Schools shall conduct a full and individual multidisciplinary evaluation of the student's educational needs in accordance with Section 8.1.8 of this policy before any action is taken with respect to the initial placement of an exceptional student in a program providing special education and related services.
b. Preston County Schools shall conduct an appropriate, individual multidisciplinary revaluation to determine the educational needs of each eligible student every three (3) years, or more frequently if conditions warrant, or if the student's parent or teacher requests an evaluation.
Within three years of date of last EC Meeting, the CASE or designee shall conduct reevaluations for public and private school students based upon a list of students' reevaluations due within the next 12 months generated at least annually from a database; and within 60 days of receipt of written request if a written request is received from a parent or teacher.
Documentation
Data base report, reevaluation determination plan, eligibility committee (EC) report, written
requests
c. Preston County Schools shall complete the initial multidisciplinary evaluation and convene an Eligibility Committee (EC) and determine eligibility, as specified in Section 4 of these procedures, within 80 calendar days of receipt of the written parental consent for evaluation.
Documentation
Notice of evaluation/reevaluation request, EC report
a. The CASE or designee shall assure that an evaluation shall be conducted by a multidisciplinary team or group of persons, including at least one teacher or other specialist with knowledge in the area of suspected exceptionality.
b. The multidisciplinary evaluation team (MDET) shall also consist of:
B. if the student does not have a regular education teacher, a regular education teacher qualified to teach a student of that age; or
C. for a child of less than school age enrolled in an early intervention or other preschool special needs program, an individual qualified to teach a child of that age;
D. at least one person qualified to conduct individual diagnostic examinations of students, such as a certified school psychologist, speech-language pathologist or audiologist; and
E. for a student suspected of being sensory impaired (deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, partially-sighted, or deaf-blind), physically disabled (orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, traumatic brain injured), or of having a voice disorder to verify the existence of a structural or functional pathology, by a licensed physician.
B. trained in the use of the specific assessment instruments or techniques for which they are responsible;
C. knowledgeable in the area of concern; and
D. knowledgeable in the applicable state and federal regulations.
Documentation
Certification Records, staff Development Records
a. For an initial evaluation, the student shall be evaluated in all areas related to the suspected exceptionality including, if appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, adaptive skills, behavioral performance, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, motor abilities, assistive technology services and/or devices, post-secondary interests/preferences and vocational aptitudes.
The CASE or designee shall select and evaluate areas based on needs presented, referral information, parent input, SAT data, classroom performance information, statewide assessment information, and other documentation.
Documentation
SAT log, referral for multidisciplinary evaluation, reevaluation determination plan, notice of
evaluation/re-evaluation request
b. When evaluating a student with an exceptionality, the evaluation shall be sufficiently comprehensive to identify all of the student's special education and related services needs, whether or not commonly linked to the suspected or identified exceptionality.
The CASE or designee shall select and evaluate areas based on needs presented, referral information, parent input, SAT data, classroom performance information, statewide assessment information and other documentation.
Documentation
SAT log, referral for multidisciplinary evaluation, reevaluation determination plan, notice of
evaluation/re-evaluation request
c. For reevaluations and initial evaluations, if appropriate, a team which meets the membership requirements of Section 5.1.2.a:
(b) current classroom-based assessments and observations; and
c) observations by teachers and related service providers; and
(d) results of statewide assessment; and
(b) the present levels of educational performance and educational needs of the student;
(c) whether the exceptional student needs or the student with a disability continues to need special education and related services; and
(d) for reevaluations, whether any additions or modifications to the special education and related services are needed to enable the student to meet the measurable annual goals set out in the IEP and to participate as appropriate in the general curriculum;
The SAT team chair shall complete the Reevaluation Determination Plan to identify appropriate areas for reevaluation based on prior evaluations, current progress/achievement data, parent information and other pertinent information/data. This shall be done at least at the annual review meeting prior to the scheduled reevaluation date.
Note: For initial evaluations where current e valuation data exists from other agencies or sources, an IEP team may review that data to determine if any additional data are needed. This activity may be conducted in conjunction with the 90 day FACE TO FACE Transition Meeting for children transitioning from Part C to Part B as long as membership requirements are fulfilled.
Documentation
Reevaluation determination plan, notice of evaluation/reevaluation request
Documentation
Reevaluation determination plan, notice of evaluation/reevaluation request
D. shall administer tests and other evaluation materials as may be needed to produce the data identified as needed; and
Documentation
Reevaluation determination plan, notice of evaluation/reevaluation request
E. shall use reevaluation information for gifted students for programmatic purposes and not eligibility.
B. of the right of the parents to request an evaluation to determine whether, for purposes of services under this part, the child continues to be a child with a disability.
Documentation
Reevaluation Determination Plan
e. The student's academic, behavioral, motoric and/or communicative performance shall be observed by at least one MDET member, other than the student's regular classroom teacher, in the regular classroom and, when appropriate, in at least one other setting.
The CASE or designee shall assign staff appropriately trained to conduct an observation(s) and record results on observation report form or within other evaluation reports. Observations shall be conducted within appropriate settings, time of day and duration to adequately collect data. Such observation(s) shall be performed prior to reevaluation date or within 80 days of initial parental consent.
Documentation
Observation report, evaluation results
Documentation
Observation report
B. When the student is suspected of having only speech/language impairments or being gifted, the team members shall determine if observations are to be conducted.
The CASE or designee shall determine if observations shall be made after reviewing the existing data and classroom performance information, if available, prior to consent for evaluation/reevaluation.
Documentation
Observation report, evaluation reevaluation determination form
Documentation
Evaluation Report
g. Reevaluations of a sensory impaired student shall be conducted more frequently if specified on the certified audiologist's or physician's report.
The CASE, designee, or team chair shall review recommendations of written reports, schedule and conduct evaluations and enter evaluation dates into database.
Documentation
Audiologist report, physician report, data base
h. A reevaluation of a gifted student shall also be conducted to determine eligibility for exceptional gifted during the eighth grade consisting of, at least, an appropriate individual achievement measure and an educational performance review.
The CASE, designee, or team chair shall assure that such reevaluation is performed prior to the end of the student's 8th grade year.
Documentation
Notice of evaluation/reevaluation request, evaluation report, EC report
i. Preston County Schools shall document information from the parent concerning the student, such as developmental history and behavior in the home and community, and make the written information available to the Eligibility Committee prior to reevaluation date or within 80 days of initial parental consent
The CASE or Designee or team chair shall obtain information from the parent by phone, mail or personal interview. At least two documented attempts to obtain this information shall be made.
Documentation
Parent report, phone log, interview notes
j. For students with disabilities age 14 (or younger, if appropriate), Preston County Schools shall obtain information pertaining to the student's post-secondary interests and preferences.
The CASE or designee or team chair shall obtain student preference and interest information through interviews of the student, data review, and parent interview and/or student surveys prior to reevaluation date or within 80 days of initial parental consent.
Documentation
Surveys, documentation of interviews, evaluation
k. Each evaluator, including the classroom teacher, shall write, sign and date an individual evaluation report and make the written report available to the Eligibility Committee prior to reevaluation date or within 80 days of initial parental consent..
Documentation
Evaluation Reports