"Preparing students for life's next step through a
comprehensive
continuum of services that promote and support positive educational
outcomes."
HOME
Determining Students'
Needs
Special Education
Eligibilities
Programs and
Services
Support Staff
4561 Hunsberger, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525-6125
Dan
Heitzman, Director
Phone:
616-361-3446
Fax:
616-361-3436
Web Designer:
Anne Zwyhuizen
PRE-REFERRAL PROCESS
When a parent or teacher has concerns about a student--whether academic, personal, social, or behavioral--those concerns should be brought to the attention of the building administrator or counselor. Depending on how serious the concerns are, and how long they have been observed, the student may be referred to the Child Study Team for review and discussion.
The Child Study Team process is the starting point for more formally addressing student concerns, and for documenting what efforts have been made to help the student be more successful. The "team" may consist of a building administrator, the classroom teacher, a counselor, and special education instructional and diagnostic staff (such as a school psychologist, school social worker, speech and language pathologist, etc.).
The goal of the team is to discuss the student's learning or behavior issues impacting classroom performance, the effectiveness of strategies or interventions used thus far, and additional strategies that might be attempted. Some possibilities include:
- Adjustments in classroom instruction techniques
- Classroom peer support
- Organizational tools for use within the classroom and at home
- Development of an action plan for behavioral support
- Help from general education consultants, paraprofessionals or volunteers
- Supplementary materials and technology
Because there may be a variety of reasons for the student's difficulties in school (developmental, home circumstances, classroom factors, etc.), the Child Study Team does not always recommend that a formal special education evaluation be completed, and may determine that other options should first be considered. Such options might include further observation, additional classroom support or instructional techniques, scheduling a parent meeting, or developing a systematic intervention plan.
After discussing the student's functioning and reviewing the interventions that have been tried, the Child Study Team may determine that his/her difficulties are significant enough to suspect a disability in some area and that a comprehensive special education evaluation should be completed. However, a referral for such an evaluation will be made only via the Child Study Team process. At that time, a member of the team will contact the student's parents to inform them of the recommendation, and arrange to have them complete the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire and sign the Consent for Initial Special Education Evaluation form.