Connecticut Guidelines For The Special Education Referral

If you have a question or concern about special education law, school administration, federal standards, or the overall rights of a student, please feel free to call the expert education law attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. in Westport today at (203) 221-3100 .

Before a child is referred to a planning and placement team, alternative procedures and programs in general education must be explored and, where appropriate, put into place in the classroom and used. School districts have teams in individual schools that provide a variety of alternative strategies to your child’s teacher to use in the classroom. These teams are sometimes called child study teams, or student assistance teams. You may request assistance from your school’s team. If your child’s difficulties persist, you should complete a referral to special education.

What is a referral to special education?

A referral to special education is the first step in the process of determining if a child should receive special education services. The referral is a written request for an evaluation of a child who is suspected of having a disability and who may be in need of special education and related services. A referral to special education may be made by:

• the student, 18 years old or older;
• a parent, guardian or surrogate parent; school personnel; or
• other individuals from other agencies (e.g., physicians, social workers) to whom parental permission to make a referral has been given.

A prompt referral to a planning and placement team (PPT) is required for any child who has been suspended repeatedly or whose behavior, attendance or progress in school is considered unsatisfactory or at a marginal level of acceptance.

What if my child hasn’t started school, but I suspect a disability may exist?

If your child is over the age of 3, and you believe that he or she may have a disability, you may refer your child for an evaluation by submitting a written request to the director of special education in your local school district. For further assistance in referring your child for an evaluation, you may call the statewide Child Find Number 1(800) 445-2722. What happens when a referral to special education is made? When your child is referred to special education by someone other than you, you will receive written notice of this referral. You will receive a notice asking you to participate as a member of the school’s planning and placement team (PPT) to review existing evaluation information that the school district has about your child and determine whether there is a need for any additional data or information. Your participation in this process is very important. 

The PPT may determine that the existing data provides enough information to determine that your child is eligible for special education or it may decide that the existing data does not support eligibility and refer your child for general education services. If the PPT decides that additional data are needed in order for it to determine whether your child is a child with a disability, you will work with educators and, as appropriate, specialists to design the evaluation procedures for your child. If you disagree with the decision of the PPT to conduct an initial evaluation, you may refuse consent for the evaluation. In this case, the school district may continue to pursue those evaluations by using due process. The school district is not required to pursue an initial evaluation of a child suspected of having a disability if the parent does not provide consent for the initial evaluation. If the PPT refuses to evaluate your child, you may exercise your due process rights to contest its decision. (See page 16 for further explanation of due process and mediation.)

If you have a child with a disability and have questions about special education law, please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq., at 203-221-3100, or at JMaya@mayalaw.com, to schedule a free consultation.

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Source- http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Special/Parents_Guide_SE.pdf