Questions and Answers about Screening

Question: Why is my child being referred to the Student Services Team for screening?

Answer: A referral is made to the Student Services Team at the schools when a child is suspected of having a disability. When any person, including the parents, or an agency thinks that a child may need special education services, that person or agency makes a request in writing stating the child’s specific areas of concern, current strengths, and weaknesses.

A child may be referred for screening when there is a concern in any of the following areas:

Low academic performance
Behavior/Emotional Problems
Visual Problem
Speech/Language Problem
Hearing Problem
Physical Problem
Question: What will happen during the screening process?

Answer: You will be notified that the screening process has been started. Your child’s health records will be checked to see if he/she has had a recent vision and hearing screening. If the vision and hearing screening has not taken place within the last 12 months, the school nurse will screen your child’s vision and hearing.

An EC Staff Member, guidance counselor, or school psychologist will do a classroom observation. During this time, the observer will look at how well your child pays attention, how he spends his work time, his interactions with other students, and other information that will tell the observer about your child.

Classroom Interventions: In order to assist your child, his or her teacher will attempt various classroom interventions. For example, the teacher(s) may adjust the way that information is presented to your child. He may adapt the assignments that are given, or move your child to a different seat. If classroom interventions are not successful in addressing the area of concern, further screening will take place.

Health Screening:

Health screening may include vision screening, hearing screening, dental screening, review of health history, review of developmental milestones, assessment of physical growth, and assessment of nutritional status. A school nurse or other appropriately trained persons can perform the health screening.

Motor Screening:

Motor screening includes reviewing written and verbal information, observing the student in a variety of settings and/or administering screening instruments. Persons who may screen motor skills are psychologists, specially trained teachers of children with special needs, occupational therapists or physical therapists.

Speech/Language Screening:

Speech/language screening quickly provides information about a child’s articulation (how they pronounce words), expressive language (how well he communicates his thoughts and feelings), receptive language (how well a child understands what is being expressed). The screening also considers the child’s fluency of speech. The screening information is then used to determine which students need further evaluations and which students have communication skills that are within normal limits.
Question: What will happen when the screening is completed?

Answer: The Student Services Team will meet to review the information gathered through the screening process. You may request to be a part of this meeting by speaking with the Student Services Team Chairperson. The group will make a decision about doing further evaluations. If the Team decides that your child is not in need of further evaluations, you will be notified in writing. If you are still concerned about your child, you may request a hearing with the Student Services Team to express your concerns.

Question: How long does the school have to administer the test once my child has been recommended for testing and all the papers have been signed and all questionnaires filled out and you are at level 3?

Answer: This student may be in the Student Services Team process; therefore, there is not a timeline.  The timeline starts once the IEP team has met to complete the Exceptional Children’s Referral (DEC 1) form and the parent has signed the Consent for Evaluation (DEC 2) form.  The date of the DEC 1 form starts the 90 day timeline in which the EC referral should be completed.  Information is presented to the family at an IEP team meeting and eligibility determination made.