Posted by Jessica Charlton on June 14, 2010

The following is a brief introduction into Special Education. The first step in providing your child with special education in school is to have him/her evaluated to see if he/she qualifies.

How do you have your child evaluated to receive special education services?

A medical diagnosis does not determine services; the child must be evaluated by the school. The medical diagnosis can, however, be used as supporting evidence. The school may request to have your child evaluated. In this case, you must give written informed consent for them to evaluate your child. You may also request to have your child evaluated by writing a letter to the teacher, principal, or director of special education services in your school district. If both you and the school are in accordance, your child should be evaluated within 60 days of your signing the consent form, at no cost to you.

Building-Based Student Support Team (BBSST) are interventions in the general education system designed to support struggling children.  In Alabama, a child must try using BBSST for at least 8 weeks before he or she can be evaluated for special education.  BBSST may be done at the same time as your child’s evaluation process.

What are the criteria for qualifying for a special education and related services under IDEA?
He or she must be 3-21 years old, so long as they have not received regular Alabama High School Diploma or turned 21 before August 1st.

He or she must also have at least one of the 13 qualifying disabilities: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment and as a result of the disability, need special education.

What is IDEA?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 amended previous laws. IDEA entitles children to a free and public education (FAPE), meaning children who meet eligibility requirements must be provided a specially designed education at no cost to the families.  Under this law, your child has the right to a special education.

What is an IEP?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written curriculum personalized to meet your child’s needs.  The IEP sets the goals for your child and the services the school will provide to help him/her succeed.

Information on the creation and execution of an IEP to come.