What to do when you think your child might need special education services
If you notice your child is struggling in school and you are concerned your child might need an IEP, you first have to request that the district conduct IEP eligibility evaluations. You can do this by submitting a written request to your district’s special education director and school principal; their contact information can usually be found on your district’s website. The written request, or referral, can be submitted any time after your child is 2 ½ years old, and if they are found eligible, they can begin receiving services when they turn 3.
Within 5 days of receiving your written request, your district must send you an evaluation consent form for you to sign. In order for the district to begin any evaluations, you must sign and return the consent form to the district. Before signing, you have the right to an opportunity to consult with the Special Education Administrator to discuss the specifics of your child’s referral, what the proposed evaluations entail, and who the evaluators are.
Once you sign the consent form and return it to the district, they have 30 days to complete the evaluations and send summaries of the evaluation results to you at least 2 days prior to the Team meeting. They have an additional 15 days to hold a Team meeting to review the evaluation results, determine whether your child is eligible for special education, and either develop an IEP and send you the proposed IEP and placement, or send you a written notice of ineligibility.
If you disagree with any of the evaluations, you can request an Independent Evaluation. If an Independent Evaluation is completed, the district has 10 days from the time they receive the report to reconvene for a Team meeting.
Additional information about the IEP eligibility determination process may be found in the Parents Notice of Procedural Safeguards: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/