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Evaluations and Reevaluations

Evaluation is the process for determining whether a child has a disability and needs special education and related services. It’s the first step in developing an educational program that will help the child learn.

A parent or guardian must provide written consent before the evaluation can begin and before the initial provision of any special education or related services to a child with a disability, and students must be reevaluated at least once every three years.

A full and individual educational evaluation serves many important purposes:

Even if the evaluation results show that your child does not need special education and related services, the information may still be used to help your child in a general education program.  

Eligibility for Special Education

Students determined eligible for special education services must meet all three of the following criteria:

  • The student must have a disability or disabilities.
  • The student's disability/disabilities adversely affect educational performance.

The student’s unique needs cannot be addressed through education in general education classes alone – with or without individual accommodations and requires specially designed instruction (SDI).