How long does this process take? What can I expect?

My DD who is in kindegarten has been struggling badly, and is nowhere where she should be in reading or math. There are more details HERE in my previous post.

Since the teacher said that we should start "the process," I haven't heard anything else about it. This was about 2 weeks ago. Becky has reported getting "pulled" 4 times, 3 times by her classroom teacher and once by the building math specialist.

I want her to get the extra help that she desperately needs, but I don't want to be a nag. I mean, I know there's protocol that get's followed, but I really have no idea what that entails or how long it takes.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Should I be calling the teacher to see what's going on?

Re: How long does this process take? What can I expect?

What is "the process" that you are referring to?

Is she being evaluated for special services?

There are time limits involved but school districts often stretch them to the limits. I know that when I was teaching we were very often out of compliance with getting kids evaluated in a timely matter and my sister has said the same about her school district.

You can call and speak with the school psychologist --- who is most likely in charge of the whole process in your distict/school. If you don't want to seem like a nag then you can word it a particular way, like maybe "I was wondering how things stand in reguards to DD's evaluation process and what more can I do in the mean time to help her in the areas that she is struggling in?"

I hope it goes quickly for you guys!

I know that my DD recieved extra help in math 2x/week last school year and she did not require any type of evaluation for it. It was just extra support services and by the end of the year she had tested out of it and didn't need the extra help yet. Perhaps they can get her started with this on a weekly basis in the mean time!

Re: How long does this process take? What can I expect?

If this helps at all:

hat are the timelines for receiving special education services?

The clock starts when parents agree in writing to have their child evaluated for initial special education services. For preschool children (ages 3-5), the Committee on Preschool Special Education must provide a recommendation to the board of education within 30 school days of the date the district received parental consent for the initial evaluation. The board of education must arrange for the services no later than 30 school days from the date the committee makes its recommendation.

For school-age children (ages 5-21), the board of education must arrange for services and or programs within 60 school days from the date of parental consent for the initial evaluation. When the committee recommends, with parental agreement, that a student will benefit from being placed in an in-state or out-of-state program or private school, the student must be placed in such setting within 30 days of the recommendation.
Guide to Special Education

I sent an email to the teacher, principal director of special education & superintendent when I felt my district was taking too long. It was amazing how the process sped up after that.

Re: How long does this process take? What can I expect?

it is 30 school days to get all testing done if a student is being brought up for a CSE (Committee for Special Ed). However, now in response to NCLB, NYS has required schools to present data on students in need/at risk (RtI - Response to Intervention).

1. Teachers modify classroom strategies
2. Students get AIS (Academic Intervention Services) for a finite amount of time. Usually these are pull outs for reading and math.
3. A more formal IEP (Individual Education Plan) is needed - this is when Special Education evaluations are done.

It sounds like you guys are at #2 right now. AIS services may be given for 6-12 weeks or longer, depending on what the schools response team (IST) has discussed.


However if you agreed to testing for Special Education Services, you must have your meeting (CSE) within 30 school days.

Message edited 2/8/2012 8:32:51 PM.

Re: How long does this process take? What can I expect?

The "process" could mean evaluating for AIS - academic intervention services- and possibly an Instructional Support Team meeting. It could take a while for an IST meeting to be scheduled - our team meets weekly for almost the entire morning, but there are a lot of cases to discuss, so it might be a bunch of weeks from the time the request for a meeting is made & the actual meeting is held.

I would definitely contact the teacher, and ask, though.