The Steps Adults can Take to Refer Students for an IEP

Referring students to receive an IEP can be a long and dreadful process. I know that DCPS can take up to 4 months. 

1. A teacher or parent has to refer their child verbally or in writing to the SPED coordinator.

2. If a teacher refers, the school will have to get permission from the parent to observe and evaluate the child (even if a child clearly needs services, if their parent DENIES it, then they cannot receive services. Crazy, right?"

3. After observation, a team will have to deem the child as eligible or ineligible.

4. If they are eligible then the team can create the student's IEP, if they are not eligible then the school will need to look for other resources to help the student learn (ex. tutoring, interventions, or a Behavior Intervention Plan if the student is not learning due to behavioral problems).

Also, I have learned that because many students have IEPs, it does not make them all the same. Ex. if a child needed help with communication (little to non-verbal) they would be referred to a CES class whereas, a student can have learning disabilities AND behavioral issues. For instance, this one student was getting pulled for math and English services BUT she also was prone to fighting and starting arguments, so she was referred to a BES class. Students are able to go where they need to and I am glad these programs are provided for them.

Before students are even referred for an IEP, teachers are supposed to use a Response to Intervention approach. 

1. Prevention: The teacher improves things as a whole class such as teaching and management. 

2. Immediate Intervention: The teacher provides 1 to 1 small group tutoring, more learning time after school, and behavioral support.

3. Intensive Intervention: The teacher provides high-intensity 1 to 1 small group, more learning time after school, and intensive behavioral support. 

And if those do not work, THEN they can be referred for learning disabilities. 

Other terms PBIS and MTSS: