The federal law, the Education for People with Disabilities Act, as amended in 2004 (IDEA), grants parents and educators the right to request a complete, individual, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary evaluation for children suspected of having a disability. This is known as “Child Find”. The IDEA and the Tennessee Department of Special Education provide specific criteria for determining eligibility to receive special education. Williamson County Schools (WCS) special education strives to provide the least restrictive environment (LRE) for all students.
The American Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) states that Response to Intervention (RTI) should never be used to delay a special education evaluation, deny evaluations, or place students in special education centers without the benefit of a comprehensive evaluation. As a parent, guardian, or advocate, you have the legal right to request that your public school evaluate your child for special education. A comprehensive evaluation of a child suspected of having a specific learning disability may include data collected by the teacher during the process of monitoring the progress of RTI; but most importantly, a comprehensive evaluation should include information from educational and psychological evaluations that show patterns of strengths and weaknesses and include input from parents, teachers, and other education professionals. If the school district refuses to make an evaluation or, after evaluating the child, concludes that the child is not eligible to receive special education services from IDEA, parents have other rights. If the evaluation is denied or disagree with it, parents may have the right to an independent evaluation by the school district. Check with the Special Education Division of the state department of education or public instruction for your state's deadlines.
Regardless of what stage of the RTI process a child is at, the IDEA rules give parents the right to request an evaluation for special education services at any time. Parents and guardians in Franklin TN have the right to request additional testing or services for their children if they suspect they may have a disability. The IDEA provides specific criteria for determining eligibility for special education services. The American Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) states that Response to Intervention (RTI) should never be used as a substitute for a comprehensive evaluation. A comprehensive evaluation should include information from educational and psychological evaluations that show patterns of strengths and weaknesses and include input from parents, teachers, and other education professionals. If your school district refuses to make an evaluation or denies your request for an independent evaluation after evaluating your child, you can contact the Special Education Division of your state's department of education or public instruction for assistance.
It is important to remember that regardless of what stage of RTI your child is at, you have the right to request an evaluation for special education services at any time. At Williamson County Schools (WCS), we strive to provide the least restrictive environment (LRE) for all students. We understand that requesting additional testing or services can be overwhelming and confusing. Our team is here to help you navigate this process and ensure that your child receives all necessary services.
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