How To Determine Your Child's Eligibility For Special Education

Are you the parent of a young child that is concernedassessment tool must be used; to gatherall of the
that your child may have a disability?academic, developmental, functional, information
Have you been told by disability educators that yourneeded todetermine if the child has a disability.d. The
child does not qualify for special educationservices?child must be assessed in all areas of suspected
This article will discuss the criteria that school personneldisability.e. They must use assessment tools that
must use, by law todetermine if a child is eligible forprovide important informationthat assists them in
special education services.determining the child's educational needs.
In order for a child to be found eligible they must meetAfter the Case Study Evaluation is complete an
two criteria, according to the Individuals with Disabilitieseligibility meeting isheld. The meeting is to go over the
Education Act (IDEA):test results, and see if the two criteria for eligibility
1. The child must have a disability, andaremet. The parent is to be an equal part of the team
2. The child must have educational needs.that determines if a child has a disability,and if they
In order for special education personnel to determine ifhave educational needs. Parents may bring information
a child is eligible, they must conduct a psychologicalontheir child to help the team make the decision.
evaluation called a Case Study Evaluation (CSE) onIf a child has a disability and educational needs, and
the child. Below is a list of important things parentsdoes notreceive special education services, their lives
must know about the CSE:a. The parent must givemay be negativelyaffected. By knowing what criteria
written consent for this to be done.b. School personneldisability educators arerequired to use by law, you can
have sixty days from when the parentalconsent isbecome an effective advocate for yourchild.
signed, to finish evaluation.c. More than one