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Identification, Assessment and Evaluation
Identification is the process used
to decide if a child may have a disability and, therefore, need
assessments. If the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team
decides that a child may have a disability and be in need of
special education, the team recommends assessments to determine
eligibility and identify the child's educational needs.
Children from Birth through
Age 2
The Howard County Infants and
Toddlers Program is a countywide system of coordinated,
interagency, multidisciplinary early intervention services. The
Howard County Public School System, Howard County Health
Department, and the Howard County Department of Social Services
provide services to eligible infants, toddlers, and their
families.
Parents or other individuals who
are concerned about a child's development may make a referral. A
service coordinator from one of the participating agencies will
then contact the family to arrange for the intake process to
continue. Evaluations are completed to determine if the child is
eligible for early intervention services. Health and
developmental needs may be identified in the areas of:
- Hearing
- Speech
- Language
- Physical Development
- Cognitive Development
- Social-Emotional Development
- Self Help Skills
Children are eligible to receive
services if they have a developmental delay, atypical
development likely to result in subsequent delay, or a diagnosed
condition that has a high probability of resulting in
developmental delay.
Children Ages 3 - 5
Children ages three to five are
eligible to receive services in Howard County if they
meet any of the following criteria:
- Children who reside in Howard
County and do not attend any preschool program
- Children who reside in Howard
County and attend a tax-exempt or approved preschool
program in Howard County (as determined by the
Maryland State Department of Education)
- Children who reside in Howard
County and attend a preschool program in Howard
County that is not tax exempt or approved by the
Maryland State Department of Education
- Children who do not reside in
Howard County but attend a tax-exempt or approved
preschool program located in Howard County (as
determined by the Maryland State Department of
Education)
The Preschool Child Find Team is
an interdisciplinary team that provides identification
services to children from three to five years of age who
may have a disability including developmental delay. The
team includes an educational diagnostician, a
speech-language pathologist, a psychologist, an
occupational therapist, a physical therapist, an
audiologist, a pediatrician, and a nurse. Parents are
important members of the team and are included in each
IEP team meeting. The Preschool Child Find Team provides
all services at no cost to the parent.
Referral
A parent or guardian, medical
personnel, or other concerned individuals may call the
Child Find Team (410-313-7046) to refer a young child
who may be in need of special education and related
services. Identifying information is obtained from the
parents, and a parent referral, parent questionnaire,
and “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” are sent to them. A
meeting is scheduled to review the written referral and
the questionnaires completed by the parent. When
appropriate, a Preschool Educational Report,
observations by private preschool teachers, and
assessments provided by the parent are obtained and
reviewed. Upon review of the existing information, the
IEP team may recommend that additional information
regarding developmental areas, vision, or hearing be
gathered. If the IEP team suspects that the child has a
disability and may need special education, assessments
in all areas related to the suspected disability are
recommended.
Assessment
For each child needing further
assessment, information from a variety of sources is
obtained and reviewed. Areas of concern and questions
that need to be addressed and answered are identified by
the Child Find Team, which includes the parents. The
recommended assessments are conducted by school-based
staff. A variety of assessment procedures are used to
gather the needed information. Assessment reports that
include information from the parent are written.
Evaluation
The assessment reports are
reviewed at an IEP team meeting and a written evaluation
report is completed to determine whether the child is a
child with a disability. The evaluation report includes
a summary of the child’s performance in each area of
suspected disability; relevant functional, cognitive,
developmental, behavioral, and physical information; and
instructional implications for the preschool child’s
participation in appropriate activities. The IEP team
completes the evaluation of the child within 60 days of
receiving the signed permission to test or 90 days from
the date of the receipt of the signed written referral,
whichever comes first. The parent is given a copy of the
assessment reports, the Evaluation Report, and the IEP
Team Meeting summary. For those children eligible for
services, an Individualized Education Program is
developed.
Individualized Education Program
(IEP)
If the child is determined to be a
child with a disability, an IEP is developed by the
school staff with input from the parents within 30 days
of the meeting to review assessment results. The IEP
team reviews the IEP, identifies services needed to
implement the IEP, and considers options for the
provision of services in the least restrictive
environment.
School Age Students
School-age children who attend a
private or religiously affiliated school in Howard
County, whether residing in Howard County or another
jurisdiction, may be referred for identification by
calling the Child Find Program at the County Diagnostic
Center (410-313-7046). When a student in a private or
religiously affiliated school is referred, the parents
are asked to complete a Parent Referral form,
Parent/Guardian Questionnaire, and Educational Report
form. Written permission is obtained for Howard County
Public School System staff to review the student’s
records, reports from any specialists who have worked
with the student, and Educational Reports completed by
the student’s current teachers. Parents are asked to
send the requested information to:
- The principal of the
student’s neighborhood school for Howard County
residents; or
- A school near the private or
religiously-affiliated school residents (designated
by the County Diagnostic Center) for non Howard
County residents.
The identification process will be
completed at the designated school.
A student who is enrolled in a
public school may receive identification and assessment
services at that school. The process includes the
following:
Identification
A student who is suspected of
having a disability is referred to the Individualized
Education Program (IEP) team. The IEP team meets to
receive the referral and to review existing data,
information from the parent, previously implemented
instructional interventions and strategies, current
classroom-based assessments, and observations by
teachers and related service providers. Based on this
information the IEP team shall determine the need for
assessment.
Assessment
If assessments are recommended
because a disability is suspected, the school staff
obtains written permission from the parent and completes
an educational assessment and other assessments as
needed.
Evaluation
After the assessments are
completed, the IEP team reviews the student’s records
and results of the assessments, and completes the
Evaluation Report to determine eligibility for special
education and related services. If appropriate, the IEP
team verifies the existence of a disability and
identifies staff members who shall participate in the
development of the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Copies of the assessment reports, the Evaluation Report,
and a written record of the recommendations made by the
IEP team are provided to the parent.
The Evaluation Report and
determination of eligibility for special education shall
be completed within 60 calendar days from the date of
the signed permission to test or 90 days from the
receipt of the signed written referral, whichever comes
first. For those children eligible for services, an
Individualized Education Program is developed.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
If the child is determined to be a
child with a disability, an IEP is developed by the
school staff with input from the parents within 30 days
of the meeting to review assessment results. The IEP
team reviews the IEP, identifies services needed to
implement the IEP, and considers options for the
provision of services in the least restrictive
environment. |
