Referral
Someone, usually a parent or a member of the school staff, flags a concern about the student.
Before any formal evaluation, the team tries adjusting instruction to see whether that resolves the issue.
Process walkthrough
Four Stages of Support
Trace how a student moves from the first raised concern to a classroom placement. Walk each stage in order, test yourself on a scenario, then confirm what you learned with a short review.
Stages you have visited are marked on the rail so you can see how far you have come.
- Referral
- Assessment
- Writing the IEP
- Least Restrictive Environment
The sequence
From First Concern to Classroom Placement
These four stages happen in order. Each one depends on what the previous stage produced.
Assessment
A team drawn from several disciplines studies the student through more than one kind of evidence:
- Tests of cognitive ability
- Measures of academic skill
- Observation of behavior
- Interviews and a review of existing records
Writing the IEP
The Individualized Education Program sets out:
- Where the student's performance stands today
- Goals that can actually be measured
- The accommodations and services to be provided
Placement in the Least Restrictive Environment
Wherever it is appropriate, the student learns alongside peers who do not have disabilities.
Stage 1 of 4
Referral
Pick any stage on the rail, or use the buttons to move one at a time.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Try it out
Put the Stages to Work
Match a short situation to the right stage, then tick off the ideas you feel confident about.
Where does this moment belong?
A parent tells the school they are worried about how their child is progressing. Which stage does that moment fall into?
Final review
Three Questions Before You Go
Pick one answer for each question, then check your results.
1. Before a formal evaluation starts, what does the team try first?
2. Who normally conducts the assessment?
3. What does placement in the least restrictive environment aim to achieve?