Referral and Evaluation
Establishing Special Education Services for Students
A referral is the first step toward receiving special education services. A referral is a written request for evaluation, explaining why the student might need special education services.
A student must be referred before they are evaluated. Evaluation determines if a student is eligible for special education services, and what those services might be. Once a student has been referred, a team at the student’s school will decide whether or not to evaluate the student within 25 school days.
If a student already has an IEP and is transferring into North Beach School District, they do not need to be referred. Instead, the district will request Special Education Records from the student's previous district.
Making a Referral
Any member of a student’s community may initiate a referral for evaluation. This community is comprised of their parents or guardians, extended family, teachers, medical professionals, community members, and/or agencies.
Referral is the first step leading towards Special Education Services. All referrals are made in writing. They are made either to the district or through a students existing school, depending on their enrollment status in the North Beach School District. A parent, guardian, teacher or other individual knowledgeable about that child may initiate the referral. When a referral is made, the district must act within twenty-five school days to make a decision about whether or not to evaluate for eligibility.
Materials that may be used to determine whether to evaluate include:
- Medical, therapy, or school records
- Report cards or other progress reports
- Teacher, parent, or provider information
- Other assessments
Parents/guardians must consent before any records not internal to North Beach School District are shared with the district.
During the referral period, if a meeting is held, the parents/guardians will be invited. The recommendation regarding evaluation will be provided to parents/guardians in the form of Prior Written Notice. If the evaluation is denied, the parents/guardians will be notified of the reason.
Students Currently Enrolled
If your student is already enrolled in North Beach School District, communicate with the staff at your student’s school to begin the referral process. A good place to start is your student’s teacher or a building administrator.
All referrals must be made in writing, but can occur at any time. If necessary, we can work with families to accept verbal referrals.