Evaluations
Special Education supports and services are available to eligible students attending Lower Merion School District. Eligibility for special education supports and services is determined by a multidisciplinary team that includes the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student, if appropriate, following receipt of signed permission to evaluate from the student's parent(s)/ guardian(s). Parents/guardians can request an evaluation of their child by contacting their school principal or school counselor.
If the student is found to be eligible for Special Education supports and services, the team will determine his or her need for specially designed instruction (SDI) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the student. The student's parent(s)/guardian(s) are then provided with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) that proposes the appropriate supports and services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Special Education services will begin only when the District receives written consent from the parent(s)/guardian(s) in the form of an approved NOREP.
After creating and implementing the initial IEP, the IEP team reconvenes at least annually to review the student's progress and revise the IEP. The IEP is a flexible document that can be revised at any time as needed. Parents/guardians can request an IEP meeting through their child's special education case manager. The District provides a variety of Special Education supports and services for students based on individual needs including, but not limited to, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, hearing therapy, and vision therapy, as appropriate.
If parents/guardians have their child(ren) evaluated independently, LMSD will consider the results of the evaluation in the decision-making process about supplemental supports and services for students.
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) has published resource documents that help families understand the IEP process. These resources are linked below:
- Special Education for School-Age Children in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Families - This guide for families of children receiving special education in Pennsylvania outlines how a child's need for special education is determined, how a child's educational program is developed, the responsibilities and protections guaranteed to caregivers and children, and the resources available to families of a child with disabilities.
- Special Education Reevaluation Process -There are two flowcharts: one describes the reevaluation process that is initiated by a parent/guardian; one describes the reevaluation process that is initiated by a district.