Policy – Category 5000 (Students)
BP 5001 – Identification and Referral
School personnel, parents, outside agencies working with the child, guardians and/or surrogate parents who show legal documentation of educational rights may all serve as sources of referral for a child for possible identification as a child with a disability. Such identification procedures shall be coordinated with school site and LEA procedures for referral of children with disabilities that cannot be met with modification of the general education instructional program. Infants, birth to three years, are referred directly by the LEA, parent, doctor, or agency to the Early Start Program at IRC. Intake information precedes the assignment of staff for assessment and the coordination with other agencies. If an infant has a solely low incidence disability, such as hearing loss, vision loss, or orthopedic disability, the infant should be referred directly to San Bernardino County operated programs. An Early Start Program Referral Form is completed, which begins the assessment process timeline.
2.0
Parent Referrals
California Education Code § 56301(d)(1). Each special education local plan area shall establish written policies and procedures pursuant to Section 56205 for use by its constituent local agencies for a continuous child find system that addresses the relationships among identification, screening, referral, assessment, planning, implementation, review, and the triennial assessment. The policies and procedures shall include, but need not be limited to, written notification of all parents of their rights under this chapter, and the procedure for initiating a referral for assessment to identify individuals with exceptional needs. All referrals for special education and related services shall initiate the process to determine if an assessment is warranted and shall be documented. When a verbal referral is made, staff of the LEA shall offer assistance to the parent or any other individual to make a request in writing. The DMSELPA shall annually distribute information regarding Child Find activities to private schools for dissemination to parents. Parents whose primary language is not English shall be informed of the need to file a written request when a verbal request is made. They shall be informed both verbally and in writing in their primary language, unless to do so is clearly not feasible. Assistance in providing a written request will be provided as needed. Written referrals in languages other than English will be accepted. If a parent requests, in writing, an assessment for possible special education services, the LEA will develop an Assessment Plan (DM 66) and present it to the parent within 15 days. A copy of the Parental Rights and Procedural Safeguards (DM 77) are reviewed and given to the parents at the time the assessment plan is presented. The parent has at least 15 days from receipt of the assessment plan to provide permission to complete the
BP 5001 – Identification and Referral
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Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (DMSELPA) (rev. 08/21)
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