As a Special Education Director, staying informed about state guidelines and regulations is crucial to ensuring our district remains compliant and provides the best support for our students. Today, we're diving into Michigan's Guidance for Timeline for Initial Evaluations, a key document from the Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education. This guide helps us understand the processes and timelines involved in identifying and evaluating children with disabilities.
Child Find
Child Find is an ongoing federal mandate requiring districts to have policies and procedures to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities. This process is continuous and ensures no child is overlooked.
- Timeline: Ongoing
- Rules/Regulations: 34 CFR §300.111
Request for Initial Evaluation
Requests for an initial evaluation can be made by either a parent or a public agency when a student is suspected of having a disability. These requests can be submitted at any time, and districts must support parents in documenting verbal requests to avoid violations of child find.
- Timeline: Anytime
- Rules/Regulations: R 340.1721, 34 CFR §300.301
Review of Existing Evaluation Data (REED)
While not required, a district may conduct a REED as part of an initial evaluation to determine what further evaluations are necessary. This ensures a comprehensive evaluation in all areas of suspected disabilities.
- Rules/Regulations: 34 CFR §300.305
Notice and Request for Consent to Evaluate
Upon deciding to conduct an evaluation, the district must provide notice and request parental consent within 10 school days of receiving the request. In cases where the child is a ward of the state, specific conditions apply regarding informed consent.
- Timeline: Within 10 school days
- Rules/Regulations: R 340.1721, R 340.1721b(1), R 340.1725f, 34 CFR §300.300, 34 CFR §300.305, 34 CFR §300.503
Evaluation and Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The initial evaluation is conducted by a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET), which then makes a recommendation to the IEP Team. The IEP Team has 30 school days from receiving parental consent to determine eligibility and provide an initial offer of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Notice of the decision must be provided within seven days of the IEP Team meeting.
- Timeline: Within 30 school days
- Rules/Regulations: R 340.1702, R 340.1705-1717, R 340.1721a, R 340.1721b(1), 34 CFR §300.11, 34 CFR §300.301, 34 CFR §300.304, 34 CFR §300.305, 34 CFR §300.17, 34 CFR §300.22, 34 CFR §300.23, 34 CFR §300.101, 34 CFR §300.306, 34 CFR §§300.320-324
Parental Consent for Provision of Programs and Services
Parental consent is required before any special education programs and services are provided to a student for the first time. This consent must be obtained within 10 school days of the district providing the notice of an initial offer of a FAPE.
- Timeline: Within 10 school days
- Rules/Regulations: R 340.1721b(2), 34 CFR §300.300(b)
IEP Implementation
The district must implement the student's IEP within 15 school days of the notice of an offer of a FAPE. Extensions can be agreed upon in writing if necessary.
- Timeline: Within 15 school days
- Rules/Regulations: R 340.1721b(4), R 340.1722(3)
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