If your child already receives special education, he or she must have a re-evaluation at least every three years or more often as needed. The purpose of the re-evaluation is to:
- Establish your child has a disability and needs special education and related services
- Identify your child’s progress in school and any educational needs
- Determine if any changes need to be made in the child’s IEP to help your child:
- Meet the annual goals and objectives that in the IEP
- Participate as appropriate in the general curriculum
Re-evaluation does not necessarily mean more testing. If you ask for re-evaluation in writing to see if your child needs services or if it is time for the three-year re-evaluation, someone from the school will set up a team meeting to look at existing information and talk with you. You are a member of this team. Generally, these are the steps:
1. Team members will review the information and test results that have been gathered on your child, including information that you provide to the school. The review will also include observations made by teachers or other school staff, and current classroom-based assessments.
2. The team will decide if there is a need for additional testing to determine whether your child continues to be a “child with a disability” in need of special education and related services, and his or her present levels of educational performance and educational needs.
3. School personnel will notify you of the team’s decision and must tell you the reasons for the decision.
4. The team has several options. It may decide that:
a) No additional data are needed. An IEP team meeting will be set up to develop or update the IEP. You may invite someone who knows your child to attend the meeting with you, and should ask that the meeting be set for a time that you can attend. The time can be changed if you are unable to attend.
b) Your child needs more testing. The team will ask you to sign permission before any new testing is completed. If you do not agree to more testing, you should put in writing that you disagree.
5. If the team determines that your child no longer needs special education services, you have a right to request that your child be evaluated. The team must tell you of this right.
6. You may want to ask the same questions at the re-evaluation meeting that are recommended for the initial (first) evaluation.
(Source: The PACER Center, Inc.)