1342.12 Companion

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1342.12 Companion
July 12, 2017 Page 32
Pre-referral
E4 S2 p 24, 25
The pre-referral process includes identification and documentation of activities designed to address a
student’s learning and/or behavioral difficulties before a formal referral to a case study committee
(CSC). Pre-referral interventions, supportive educational procedures, practices and accommodations
that address the student’s apparent academic or behavioral needs, are implemented and documented
by the teacher or a team. If the concern is behavioral, a Functional Behavioral Assessment is
recommended. This referral information is presented to the CSC should pre-referral interventions fail to
resolve the academic or behavioral needs of the student. The CSC considers the pre-referral
information when determining whether or not to accept the referral.
Procedures
The pre-referral process may include, but is not limited to, individual educator or collaborative team of
educators defining the student’s challenges and developing, implementing, and documenting
interventions and/or strategies to resolve those challenges.
During the pre-referral process, educators (general education teachers, special education and/or related
service providers, and/or support personnel) may conduct informal classroom observations and consult
with the classroom teacher on implementation of intervention strategies. Pre-referral activities to
determine appropriate instructional strategies for a student (e.g. classroom observation, consultation,
analysis of work samples, review of records) shall not be considered an evaluation for eligibility for
special education and related services and do not require parent permission. However, early parental
involvement is essential
During this time, (1) the teacher or team confers with the student's parents for information and support
in attempting to resolve the problem and (2) vision, hearing and health screening are completed to
determine if vision, hearing or health difficulties contribute to or are the cause of the student's school
concerns.
Timeframe for Pre-referral Process
There is no set timeframe for the pre-referral process.
A formal referral to the CSC may be warranted when, after the implementation of problem- specific,
collaborative interventions, a student continues to demonstrate learning and/or behavioral difficulties
and, when those difficulties prove to be resistant to the application of the interventions. There may be
situations when it is appropriate to refer the student directly to the CSC.
Referral Sources and Acting on the Referral
E4 S4, 5 p 26
A referral may be initiated by educators, or educational teams, parents, administrators, students
themselves, and representatives of community agencies. The student’s classroom teacher is involved in
the referral process. The referring agent is invited to the meeting to participate in the discussion and
resolution. When the CSC receives a referral, it is entered into the school’s referral log (student
management data base). The CSC reviews the documentation and determines whether or not to accept
the referral. The CSC must also provide the parent with a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards
upon initial referral or parent request for evaluation.