Student may be referred by teachers, counselors, principals, parents or outside agencies.

• Purpose is to brainstorm and develop intervention strategies and collect data before considering a referral to SSD.
• Participants may include parent, counselor, general education teacher, special education teacher, speech/language pathologist and a school psychologist or examiner.
• The Building Level Team process time frame varies from student to student and may be as long as a year. Many students who go to Building Level Teams are not referred for special education evaluation if their needs can be met within the general education setting.
  
  

• Data gathering packet is completed by the Building Level Team and forwarded to the Joint Review Committee to determine whether referral is warranted.
• Joint Review Committee reviews the packet for completeness and appropriateness based on Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines.
• SSD and partner school district notify parent(s) by letter to inform them whether an evaluation will occur due to suspicion of a disability that requires special education, and a copy of the Procedural Safeguards and Parent Bill of Rights is provided.
• If parents feel their child needs to be referred for evaluation and their local school district refuses, parents may request due process.
  
  

• If an evaluation will occur, a meeting between parents, teachers, counselor and SSD staff is held to review existing data and discuss areas to be assessed.
• Written consent to evaluate is requested from the parents (should occur within 30 days of Joint Review Committee meeting).
• An eligibility conference is usually scheduled within 45 days of this meeting so that a final determination can be made within 60 days of the receipt of consent.
  
  

What will happen at the review of existing data conference?

• You may be asked many questions concerning you and your child. No one knows the capabilities of your child better than you. Be honest with your answers. The team is there to guide you in assisting your child.
• The SSD staff member will discuss with you and the school the concerns brought to the referral as well as specific interventions that have been implemented.
• An evaluation plan will be developed, an eligibility conference time scheduled and consent to evaluate will be obtained from you.
• Your legal rights will be discussed.
  
  

• Parents are given a verbal report of the assessments by the school psychologist, the educational examiner, the speech/language pathologist, the resource teacher and any other evaluator involved in the assessment.
• Based on Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines, initial eligibility for special education is made if the student meets applicable criteria.
  
  

What will happen at the eligibility conference?

• At an eligibility conference, your child's test results will be reported and explained to you. You may request further information or clarification at any time during the conference.
• At the conclusion of the conference, an educational determination is made. This is a decision regarding whether the evaluation team finds your child meets eligibility criteria and, as indicated by federal and state law, requires special education and related services.
• A written copy of the evaluation report will be mailed to you.