Source: http://schoolkidslawyer.com/tag/accommodation/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 14:13:34+00:00

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A client recently told me they received a notice for an “evaluation meeting”. Huh? I asked, do you mean an IEP meeting? The client wasn’t sure because the notice said just that – evaluation meeting.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EVALUATION MEETING!
Since I figured school districts are trying to confuse parents by using the terms “evaluation” and “IEP meeting” interchangeably, let me clarify the difference between the two for everybody.
Initial evaluation: “A State educational agency, other State agency, or local educational agency shall conduct a full and individual initial evaluation . . . before the initial provision of special education and related services to a child with a disability under this subchapter.” 20 U.S.C. §1414(a)(1).
In other words, before a student can receive special education and related services for the first time, the school must conduct an initial evaluation of the child. This is part of their “Child Find” responsibility if someone suspects that the child has a disability that impacts their education.
The next few subsections discuss the procedures used and the purpose of an initial evaluation (“to determine [eligibility] within 60 days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation”) and parental consent.
Reevaluation: “A local educational agency shall ensure that a reevaluation of each child with a disability is conducted . . . if the local educational agency determines that the educational or related services needs, including improved academic achievement and functional performance, of the child warrant a reevaluation; or if the child’s parents or teacher requests a reevaluation.” 20 U.S.C. §1414(a)(2).
Reevaluation MUST occur at least every three (3) years, but not more than once a year, unless the parents and school agree that reevaluation is not necessary.
What does an evaluation involve? “In conducting the evaluation, the local educational agency shall use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional, developmental, and academic information, including information provided by the parent (to determine if there is a disability and what will be necessary in an IEP); shall not use any single measure or assessment as the sole criterion for determining (disability or the education program); and use technically sound instruments that may assess the relative contribution of cognitive and behavioral factors, in addition to physical or developmental factors.” 20 U.S.C. §1414(b)(2).
It means that the school must use valid testing methods and get input from the parents and others who know the child in performing the evaluation. The school can’t simply rely on what the teachers say.
This is where the trouble starts, because schools think that they can conduct an “evaluation” or “reevaluation” by simply having a meeting. They can’t.
IEP Meeting: The IEP Team (parents, at least 1 gen ed teacher who knows the child, at least 1 special ed teacher who knows the child, a representative of the school district who knows the resources available, a person who can interpret evaluation results, and possibly others) must assemble to develop an IEP for the child. 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(1)(B) and (C). This is an IEP meeting.
The Team must meet to ensure that an IEP is in effect for each child with a disability in the school district by the beginning of the school year in the Fall. 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(2)(A). The IEP meeting must occur “periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to determine whether the annual goals for the child are being achieved.” 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(4)(A).
So, hopefully you’re still with me. And you can see that the law is crystal clear that an evaluation is something different than an IEP meeting.
So why are schools getting this mixed up (maybe on purpose)?
“To the extent possible, the local educational agency shall encourage the consolidation of reevaluation meetings for the child and other IEP Team meetings for the child.” 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(3)(E).
The statute doesn’t explain what a “reevaluation meeting” is, but I think it refers back to the section quoted in Reevaluation above, namely a meeting to determine if a reevaluation is needed. It is not a meeting where an evaluation takes place, but rather to decide if one is necessary.
Nevertheless, ASK the school what they mean by an “evaluation meeting”. Ask them if they mean a meeting to decide whether reevaluation is necessary or if they mean an IEP meeting or a combined meeting. And, as always, DO IT IN WRITING!
If you want further information on this, get our book SchoolKidsLawyer’s Step-By-Step Guide to Special Education Law or contact us for a consultation.
A new tactic being used by schools against parents of children with disabilities is to require / funnel all communications with the school through one person, usually the case manager. We’ve seen numerous questions by parents if this is illegal or whether parents can request two-way communication be listed as an accommodation in the IEP.
Yes it is, yes it can and it should be.
But you won’t find the requirement in IDEA. You’ll find it in ESSA. Read on.
IDEA does not have a requirement or regulation that says that there should be ongoing communication between teachers and parents of children with disabilities. Probably because Congress felt that such communication was basic common sense and they wouldn’t need to actually write it into a law.
IDEA guarantees parents and their child with a disability numerous legal rights identified as “Procedural Safeguards”. See 20 U.S.C. §1415; 34 C.F.R. §§300.500-520. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that it is not only the child with the disability that has legal rights under IDEA, but the parents are also entitled to assert legal rights on their own behalf under IDEA. Winkelman v. Parma City School Dist., 550 U.S. 516, 127 S.Ct. 1994, 1996 (2007).
Parental participation in an IEP meeting is so vital, it is set forth twice in the IDEA regulations. 34 C.F.R. §§300.322(a), (c) and (d) (emphasis added); 34 C.F.R. §300.501(b)(1).
But that is all concerning parental participation in the development of an IEP. These provisions don’t discuss the daily, ongoing communication with the school.
Now, we look at ESSA . . .
In 2017, Congress passed and President Trump signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. §6301 et seq. (2017) (“ESSA”). This was an amendment of the prior No Child Left Behind Act (“NCLB”).
Thus, since Congress deemed this so important that they wrote it into law, it is important enough to make it part of your child’s IEP. Show them the law quoted above. (Maybe even print out this article and bring it to the IEP meeting.) Tell them that you want this accommodation written into the IEP, especially if the school is trying to deny this right of access.
I’m quite sure that even teachers would welcome such ongoing dialogue. The key is not to abuse this right – don’t contact the teachers several times every day. Be reasonable as teachers have other students and their parents to meet this obligation. But, if you do so reasonably, there is no legal basis for a school to block such regular and common sense communication.
It’s no longer just common sense – it’s now the law.
Recently I was asked to explain what a “reasonable accommodation” is.
I doubt this is a “reasonable accommodation”, but let’s explore how we get there.
First, “reasonable accommodation” is 504 and ADA language, not IDEA. Under IDEA, a school must develop an IEP that meets all needs of a student with a disability. This is not an ‘accommodation’; rather it is a legal requirement so that a child may receive a FAPE.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504 for short) is a federal law that prohibits a facility that receives federal funds from discriminating against a person with a disability. Under 504, a public school must ensure that a child with a disability has equal access to education and services. To accomplish that, the school must provide modifications to education and services or a “reasonable accommodation” to such student so that he/she is not discriminated against because of his/her disability.
What does the ADA require?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is very similar to 504 and applies to schools equally. The purpose is to prevent and prohibit discrimination against students with disabilities, so it requires the same as 504.
How is “reasonable accommodation” defined?
Unfortunately, neither 504, ADA, nor their regulations define this specific term. We know from caselaw that schools are required to make reasonable accommodations according to a person’s disability unless such changes would fundamentally alter the nature of the school’s purpose, i.e. providing educational services.
There are obvious accommodations like making sure there is wheelchair access to all parts of the school for a student confined to a wheelchair. There are slightly less obvious accommodations like assigning a staff member or student to assure that child in a wheelchair can get out of the building in case of fire or a fire drill. But this is still reasonable.
There are several types of accommodations already determined to be reasonable. They fall under categories.
a. Accessibility: This includes the wheelchair example above and a special needs bus or transportation.
b. Service Animals: For children who need the assistance of a service animal, schools must allow access to accommodate that child’s needs.
c. Interpreters: Access to sign language interpreters or hearing aids for those who have hearing disabilities or access to other interpretors like Braile materials or interpreters when a child with a disability does not speak English.
d. Auxiliary Aids and Services: A school may need to provide a medical plan or extra access to a nurse for a child with diabetes, epilepsy, or other illness requiring medication and/or monitoring during the school day. Or perhaps a child’s disability requires a smaller classroom, less noise, less distraction, different lighting, etc.
e. Removal of Barriers: If doors or stairways or other typical structural aspects of the school are a barrier to a child with a disability, the school must find alternate ways to accommodate that student.
There are several others, but these are the major categories in which schools must provide accommodations.
Reasonableness is going to be determined by what the disability is and how it interferes with the child’s access to educational services. So, accommodation may be decided on a case-by-case basis, but, again, can’t change the fundamental purpose of the school.
Is the bathroom example in the question reasonable?
Although the person did not reveal what the disability of the child is, a desk in a room with other children with a curtain does not seem reasonable for numerous reasons: anxiety of the child because of the location; potential health risks because of unsanitary conditions; and may not appropriately address the need of the child.
Follow the guidelines above (and think of more yourself) to determine a reasonable accommodation that the school should make in order for your child with a disability to access the educational services. If the accommodation that the school provides seems shocking or inappropriate, it is not likely reasonable.

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