When you let your child's teacher or school know that you think your child may have a disability, this is called a referral. The school will review the referral and decide if an evaluation is needed. An evaluation helps determine if your child can receive special education and related services. The school will then follow the steps in the Referral section.

Yes. Referrals can come from many people. Schools must find, identify, and evaluate students who may need special education and related services. This responsibility is called Child Find.A referral can be made by:A parent or guardianDCPS staff who know the studentThe studentFor children under age 6: doctors, health care providers, childcare programs, early childhood programs, district agencies, or community organizations

No. The school must get permission from a parent or guardian before evaluating a child for special education. This is true no matter who makes the referral.

An eligibility report explains the results of your child's evaluations and assessments. It helps determine if your child can receive special education services. The report includes information about your child's strengths, needs, and supports.

The IEP team, including the parent/guardian, reviews information about the student to decide if special education services are needed. The team looks at:Schoolwork and classroom performanceEvaluation and assessment resultsInput from teachers and parents/guardiansHow the student responds to supports and interventionsThe student's school historyAfter reviewing this information, the team meets to decide if the student can receive special education services.

Informal and formal assessments help show your child's strengths and needs. The evaluator reviews and explains the results. The results help the IEP team decide if your child needs special education services. If you have questions, the IEP team can explain the results.

A classroom observation may be part of the evaluation process. During the observation, the evaluator looks at:Supports already in the classroomHow the student respondsAreas where the student has difficultyThe student's strengthsThe results can be found in the "Analyzing Existing Data" section or in the evaluation reports.

You should receive your child's evaluation reports at least five school days before the eligibility meeting. This gives you time to review the results and take part in the discussion about special education services.

At the eligibility meeting, the team decides if your child can receive special education services. The IEP team may also suggest supports for your child. If your child cannot receive special education services, the school may still provide other supports. These may include reading or math help, tutoring, a 504 Plan, or other services to support your child's learning.