Meeting the educational needs of a child in school is important to their success. It is important for parents and caregivers to understand the process which can be confusing. There are federal and local laws that protect the rights of children with disabilities.
In general, the following are a list of the steps to help a child receive special education and related services:
- Identify a child who has a mental health need or disability
- Referral for services and Planning and Placement Team Process (PPT)
- Evaluation of child
- See if child is eligible for services based on the evaluation and law
- Develop an Individualized Education Plan for child.
Please read all of the questions in this section as they explain in detail each step of the process. Please also check the resource library section for information on agencies that can help you advocate for your child’s rights.