2023-2024 Guide Steps-10-20-2023

Arizona Department of Education: Exceptional Student Services Technical Assistance Manual

October 2023

Contents Overview

  • Acronyms for Forms: Page 3

  • Section I: Child Find: Pages 5-8

  • Section II: Evaluation/Reevaluation: Pages 9-23

  • Section III: Individualized Education Program (IEP): Pages 24-39

  • Section IV: Procedural Safeguards/Parental Participation: Pages 40-44

Section I: Child Find

I.A.1 Child Find Requirements/Policies and Procedures

  • Goal: Identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities in need of SPED services.

  • Requirements: Each PEA must have board-approved policies tailored to its needs reflecting IDEA, state statute, and board rules.

  • Documentation Review: Verify board approval, availability of policies/procedures to parents including those of private and home-schooled children.

I.A.2 Child Find Procedures

  • Screening for Ages 0-2.9: Procedures must include mandatory referrals to AZ Early Intervention Program (AzEIP).

  • Actions Required: Documentation and follow-up on all referrals must be monitored and prompted if not adhered to.

I.A.3 Early Childhood Transition (In by 3)

  • Evaluation Timeliness: Evaluate children served by AzEIP by their 3rd birthday.

  • Documentation: Must indicate the development, implementation, and FAPE offering before the child’s 3rd birthday.

Section II: Evaluation/Reevaluation

II.A.1 Completion of Evaluation/Reevaluation

  • Initial Evaluations: Must be completed within 60 calendar days post written consent.

  • Doc Review: Ensure evaluations are current (within 3 years) and that team participation is documented.

II.A.2 Review of Existing Data

  • Request Compliance: Review documentation within 15 school days upon parent request for evaluation to verify data collection.

II.A.3 Team Determination of Need for Additional Data

  • Decisions: Document team’s rationale for needing or not needing more data.

II.A.4 Eligibility Considerations

  • Evaluation Areas: All areas of concern must be assessed according to suspected disability.

II.A.5 Initial Evaluations Completion Within 60 Days of Consent

  • Timeliness: Verify whether evaluations were done within the designated period after consent.

Section III: Individualized Education Program (IEP)

III.A.1 Current IEP

  • Currency: Check if an IEP is within 365 days at the time of review.

III.A.2 IEP Review/Revision and Participants

  • Review Requirements: Ensure annual review and participation of all required team members.

III.A.3 General Required Components of IEP

  • Components Include: Present level of performance, strengths, needs, academic goals, and how the disability impacts curriculum access.

III.A.4 Special Education and Related Services

  • SDI Documentation: Describe how specially designed instruction meets a student’s needs.

III.A.5 Documentation of Measurable Postsecondary Goals

  • Transition Goals: Should include education, employment, and if appropriate, independent living skills.

Section IV: Procedural Safeguards/Parental Participation

IV.A.1 Notices Sent to Parents

  • Requirement: Procedural safeguards notice must be provided within the last 12 months in a language understandable to parents.

IV.A.2 Prior Written Notice (PWN)

  • PWN Timeliness: Must be given at required times with all components thoroughly documented.

IV.A.3 Discipline Procedures

  • Manifestation Determination: For suspensions exceeding 10 days, ensure a manifestation determination meeting occurs within 10 school days.

Key Terms and Acronyms

  • AF: Agency Form

  • CE: Child Evaluation

  • IEP: Individualized Education Program

  • PWN: Prior Written Notice

  • SDI: Specially Designed Instruction

  • ESY: Extended School Year

  • FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education