If the PPT team decides that the child is not eligible for special education, the school district must tell the parents and caregivers of this decision in writing and explain why the child has been found “not eligible.” Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents must also be given information about what they can do if they disagree with this decision. Parents and caregivers have the right to request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) conducted by a qualified (licensed and/or certified) examiner who is not employed by the child’s school district. When the school district agrees to pay for the IEE, the criteria under which the IEE is obtained, including the location and the qualifications of the examiner, must be the same as the criteria that the school district would use when it does its own evaluation.
In Connecticut, parents and caregivers have the right to appeal the school district’s decision by filing a complaint with the Connecticut State Department of Education, or initiating mediation or due process.
Kids Mental Health Info