How is a student referred for a Child Study Team evaluation?
Students between the ages of 3 and 21 suspected of having an educational disability may be referred through a variety of sources to the Child Study Team for an evaluation. Generally, the referrals come from one of the following:
- Parents: Parents may request a Child Study Team evaluation by contacting the Department of Special Services and forwarding their request in writing. The district accepts written referrals from parents with a signature affixed and not through any electronic forms of communication such as emails, telephone calls, etc.
- Intervention and Referral Services Team (I&RS): I&RS is a building-based interdisciplinary group that meets regularly to systematically provide interventions for students experiencing difficulty in the general education setting. Once the I&RS team has utilized its resources and determines that additional information may be necessary, or feels that the student may be potentially educationally disabled, the student may be recommended for consideration of a Child Study Team evaluation.
- Administrators or Outside Agencies: Building administrators or community agencies or other entities may refer a student for a Child Study Team evaluation.
What is the procedure after the referral is made?
Once the referral is made, the assigned case manager has twenty (20) days to schedule an Identification Meeting. Personnel expected to attend this meeting include the parent, the general education teacher, the School Social Worker, the Learning Disabilities Teacher/Consultant, School Psychologist and Speech Language Specialist, if an area of concern exists in this area.
Are students automatically tested if a request is made?
Once a request for a Child Study Team evaluation has been made, an Identification Meeting will be scheduled. At that meeting, it is determined if a Child Study Team evaluation is warranted and, if so, an evaluation plan is developed.
What is the procedure if the student is going to be tested?
Once it is determined that testing is necessary, an evaluation plan is developed. The parent or guardian must give written consent for testing to occur. The district has ninety (90) days to complete the necessary evaluations. Within the ninety (90) days, an eligibility conference is scheduled. During the eligibility conference, the evaluations that were completed are interpreted and a determination is made regarding the student’s eligibility for special education and/or related services.
If a student is eligible, does that mean that he or she will be in a special education class?
Before a student receives services, an Individual Education Plan must be developed and agreed upon. In Audubon Public Schools, students eligible for special education services may receive services within general education classrooms, in-class support settings, resource classes and in self-contained classrooms.
An informative guide to understanding the special education process in New Jersey