Referral to the Child Study Team for an Evaluation

Students between the ages of 3 and 21 suspected of having an educational disability may be referred to the Child Study Team for consideration of an evaluation.  Often, referrals are made by the following sources:

Parents :   Guardians may initiate a request in writing to the Director of Special Services for their child who may be demonstrating significant academic and/or social-emotional behavioral challenges.Please note:  Referrals are made in writing, emails are not accepted.

I&RS:   Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) is a building-based, inter-disciplinary group of education professionals from varied specialties on the staff (e.g.  general education teacher, special education teacher, guidance, nurse, physical education teacher, other invited staff specialist) facilitated by the Building Principal. I&RS group meets on a regular basis to provide interventions for students demonstrating significant academic and/or social-emotional behavioral challenges in the class/school environment.  Once I&RS has exhausted all resources and determines additional information may be necessary, or suspects that the student may be educationally disabled, I&RS forwards a Child Study Team referral to the Director of Special Services.  The Director, through an assigned Child Study Team Case Manager, coordinates anInitial Planning Meeting with the parent(s)/guardian, Child Study Team, and the student's teacher(s) to discuss the student's academic and/or social-emotional challenges and a possible evaluation for Special Education and Related Services.

Other Sources:    Administrators or Outside Agencies (e.g. doctor, social worker, etc.) may refer a student to the Child Study Team who is demonstrating significant academic and/or social-emotional behavioral challenges.

Procedure after the referral is made

Once the referral has been made in writing, the assigned Case Manager has twenty (20) days to schedule an Identification Meeting.  The necessary personnel expected to attend this meeting would be a social worker, psychologist, learning disabilities teacher-consultant, classroom teacher, speech and language specialist (if the child is age 3-5 or if the suspected disability included that area of development), and the parent.

A student is not automatically tested if the request is made

Once a request for a Child Study Team evaluation is made, an Identification Meeting must be scheduled.  At that meeting, it is determined if a Child Study Team Evaluation is warranted, and if so, an Evaluation Plan is developed. 

If the student is going to be tested 

Once it is determined that testing is necessary, an assessment plan is developed and the parent/guardian gives written permission.  The district then has ninety (90) days to complete the agreed upon evaluations.  Within the ninety (90) days an Eligibility Conference is scheduled where the evaluations are interpreted and it is determined if the student is eligible for special education and/or related services. 

If a student is eligible for Special Education

Before a student receives services, an Individual Education Program plan (IEP) must be developed and agreed to.  The Least Restrictive Environment continuum is explored to determine how and where each student is best served, with appropriate supports when required.  This will be explained by the Case Manager at the IEP Team meeting.  High Bridge services eligible special education students in the general education environment and/or classroom.