When a student has problems, parents and teachers meet in an informal conference to discuss topics like whether a student's problems are new or if they occur in specific subjects like math or language arts. Teachers will likely have examples of student work to show parents, and together they will think of temporary practices, or interventions, that will help the student in the regular classroom. Teachers and parents should stay in contact about whether or not the interventions are successful.
If after a period of time the initial recommendations do not help the student, he or she will be referred to a school-based intervention team that will hold a pre-referral conference. The team consists of parents, teachers, administrators and counselors. In the conference, the team discusses the student's strengths and weaknesses, devises a formal list of interventions, and also creates a time line for implementation. The goal of the conference is to find ways to help the student be successful in the regular classroom.
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities estimates that 95 percent of all students will respond favorably to changes made in either the informal or pre-referral conferences. However, if student performance does not improve, the student will be referred for special education evaluation. The referral can be made by a parents, teachers or other people involved with the student's education. Regardless of who initiates the referral, the school must have parental consent in order to complete an evaluation.
If a student is referred for special education, a school must complete the assessment within 60 days of the referral. The student's evaluation will be carried out by a multi-disciplinary team that could include members of the pre-referral team but also diagnosticians, speech or occupational therapists, and medical doctors. The student receives a series of tests that measure the student's intelligence, behavior, medical conditions or disability-related issues. Once the evaluation is complete, parents and team members meet to discuss whether special education placement is necessary.