“Special Education is specially designed instruction for students with a disability who have difficulty accessing the general curriculum and making effective progress.” A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Massachusetts

Special education can take many forms since any child who is found eligible has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). For detailed information we would encourage you to read A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Massachusetts.

There is a formal process called referral and evaluation. A student can be referred for evaluation by a parent or a teacher.

If your child is having difficulty in school, the first step is to talk with your child’s teacher. 

When a student shows signs of difficulty in school, your child’s educator team will observe the student in the classroom or other areas of the school to see if changes might be made that will help the student do better. Sometimes students will do much better simply by changing seats in the classroom, or by having the teacher discuss the daily schedule each morning. 

Sometimes the school may suggest that a vision or hearing screening may be helpful. Other changes may include trying new ways to teach your child or finding different ways your child can express what has been learned. The teacher may change the way the classroom is set up or may arrange for extra help from other school professionals. 

These supports or changes in the classroom are part of the Response to Intervention (RTI) Program that is mandated by the federal government. Each school has a Response to Intervention (RTI) Team. 

If, based on data and tracking, the interventions do not seem to be helping, a parent or teacher or other professional may refer a student for evaluation.

There is a formal process of evaluation that is required by law to determine if a child is eligible for Special Education services. 

An evaluation is conducted to assess the child in all areas related to the child's suspected disability. 

A group of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child's evaluation results. Together, this team decides if the child is a "child with a disability," as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Three criteria must all be met before a student can be declared eligible for special education services:

1. A student must be found to have a disability
2. A student must demonstrate a lack of progress in the general education curriculum
3. A student must require specially designed instruction, or be unable to access the general curriculum without the provision of one or more related services

A student may have a disability and be making progress in the general education curriculum or may not require specially designed instruction. That student would not be eligible for special education services. A student must meet all three criteria listed above.

Once a student has been found eligible for services, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) must be written. The team will write an Individual Education Program or IEP for the child. More detailed information on the IEP process is available on the DESE website.