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Frequently Asked Questions
 
 
Many questions regarding special education in Virginia can be addressed by reviewing the Virginia Department of Education's "Your Family's Special Education Rights" at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Sped/proc_safe.pdf  (Viewing this file requires Adobe Acrobat).  "Your Family's Special Education Rights" are also available in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Urdu, Farsi, Korean, and Vietnamese languages.

 

Who may refer a child for special education services?

 

Anyone, including parents, teachers, and administrators may refer a child to the Child Study Team. After the Multi-disciplinary Referral Form is submitted to the special education contact person, a Child Study Team meeting takes place within 10 business days to determine interventions that may benefit the child’s academic progress. If, after a period of time, the interventions are unsuccessful, the Child Study Team may reconvene to determine whether the child needs a referral for testing for special education placement.
 

How are preschoolers assessed?

 

Preschoolers are screened by Speech-Language Pathologists and Early Childhood Special Education staff through Child Find.  If the Child Find screening team suspects a disability due to concerns about a child's development, the child is referred for evaluation and eligibility for special education services.

 
What happens during the 65 business days prior to the eligibility meeting?
  • Evaluations are completed.
  • You may meet, at your request, to review the results of the testing with the individual evaluators. 
  • All evaluation reports will be made available to you at your child's school two business days before the eligibility meeting.
  • Evaluation reports for preschool aged children referred by Child Find will be available at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20148).
  • Approximately two weeks before the eligibility meeting, you will receive a letter inviting you to the eligibility meeting that states the date and time of the meeting.
What will happen in the Eligibility meeting?

 

The meeting, which will take approximately 45 minutes, will consist of:
  • A summary of each evaluation requested
  • Review of any additional pertinent information
  • Parent input
  • Discussion of referral concerns and results
  • Discussion of criteria as it relates to referral concerns and information presented.
  • The eligibility decision, as it is made by a general agreement (consensus) of the committee.
What if my child has a medical diagnosis of a condition?
 
The existence of a medical condition alone does not automatically qualify a child for special education services.  There must also be evidence of adverse impact on educational performance that results in a requirement for specially designed instruction in order to access the general curriculum.
 
What happens if my child is not found eligible for special education services?
  • The Special Education contact, usually the assistant principal of the school, will reconvene the Child Study Committee to share information from the eligibility meeting.
  • The intervention plan will be modified, as appropriate, to reflect the new information.
  • The Child Study Committee will continue to monitor your child's progress.
What happens if I disagree with the eligibility decision?
 
You, as the parent, have the following options:
  • You may write a dissenting opinion stating your disagreement with the eligibility decision.
  • You may request an Administrative Review of the eligibility decision within 60 business days of the eligibility meeting.
  • If you disagree with the Administrative Review decision, you may request mediation or due process.
Additional Questions
 
Should you have additional questions about the eligibility process and procedures, please click here for a directory of LCPS Eligibility Coordinators by school.   You may also refer to the Virginia Department of Education's "Your Family's Special Education Rights" at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Sped/proc_safe.pdf.

 

 

Last Modified on June 12, 2012