Referrals of school-age children for an evaluation may be made by their parents, teachers, principals, or counselors. However, no formal evaluation is conducted without a Planning and Placement Team meeting.
Depending upon a student’ s needs, school evaluation may be conducted for any of the following: intellectual level of functioning, academic achievement level, developmental age level, learning disabilities, reading ability, speech and language proficiency, or giftedness. Physical therapy and occupational therapy evaluations may also be administered with the medical authorization of the student’ s physician.
These evaluations are administered by appropriate school staff including the school psychologist, school counselor, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and special education teacher. Re-evaluations are conducted triennially for all students who receive special education.
THE PLANNING AND PLACEMENT TEAM PROCESS
Following an evaluation, a Planning and Placement Team meeting is held to review the testing and to determine the eligibility of the child for special education. Parents are considered essential team members and strongly encouraged to attend all such meetings. No child will receive special education without the parent’ s signature of consent to the initial placement by the PPT.
Pupil Services will act in an advisory capacity to the parents of any child who is identified as“ at risk” but will not be 3.0 years old by September 1st to make them aware of agencies or programs that may be appropriate to their needs.
Once a student is receiving special education, annual reviews are held to determine continued eligibility and appropriateness of a program. A student may receive special education services until 21 years of age or his / her graduation from high school, whichever comes first. A parent guide to special education is available in each principal’ s office.
Related services available to Enfield’ s children include individual evaluations, speech and language therapy, school counseling services, adaptive physical education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special transportation. Every child eligible for special education is also eligible for related services as needs are identified by the PPT. Goals and objectives are stated in writing in the student ' s Individualized Educational Program( IEP).
SECTION 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a broad civil rights law that protects the rights of individuals with handicaps and bars discrimination based on disability. The act
REVISED 2025 29 Family Handbook