Special Education

Evaluation

Students who are initially referred to Special Education are assessed to determine if they are eligible for services. If the student meets eligibility, then he/she are re-evaluated every three years after placement in special education. The Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) includes information in the following areas:

Health (including vision, hearing, and motor skills)
Language Skills
Sociological Status
Emotional/Behavioral Status
Intellectual Ability and Adapative Behavior
Academic Performance
Assistive Technology needs

If a specific disability is noted in the evaluation, an eligibility report completed. The assessment will also note the legal requirements for the evaluation to apply to that disability. The testing also provides information about the student’s present levels of academic and functional performance (PLAAFP). The Admission, Review, and Dismissal committee (ARDC) will use this information to develop and Individual Education Plan, that is specific to the student. The evaluation will also include recommended accommodations/modifications for general education classes and for special education and/or other settings.

Child Find

The purpose of Child Find is to locate, identify and evaluate children from birth to 21 years of age and their possible need for special education and related services. Child Find is a free referral and information service available through local education agencies and ESC Region 12 Service Center.

Every child learns at different rates, but some children have significant struggles. GISD is her to help you access services, to help meet their unique learning needs. Please call (254)865-7251, if you are having any concerns in these areas.

Referral Process

Examples of places a referral could begin:

Parents
Preschool Teachers/Directors
Physicians
Outside agencies/therapists/ECI

Who is Eligible?

There is a two-part test for determining whether your child is eligible for special education services: (1) your child must have a disability (2) as a result of the disability, your child must need special education services to benefit from education.

Speech/language Impairment
Other Health Impairment
Deaf-Blind
Visual Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury
Multiple Impairments
Hearing Impairments
Orthopedic Impairment
Autism
Intellectual Disability
Emotional Disturbance
Specific Learning Disability
Non-Categorical Early Childhood (NCEC). It is for students aged 3-5 who have general delays in their physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, or adaptive development; and who, because of these delays, need special education and related services. Assessment personnel can make NCEC determinations in the following areas: Autism, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and Learning Disability. By age 6, a child must be evaluated to determine the disability criteria. Children who have visual and auditory impairments, can have services that begin at birth.