The Eligibility Conference:  What is it?  What Will Happen?

 When a student is referred for a case study evaluation, educational professionals work with the student, the parents, and the student's teachers to gather information about the student's abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and educational needs.  They work together as a team to make sure that all necessary information is gathered to make the best possible decisions on behalf of the student.  The parent is an essential member of the team with important information to share and input into decisions that will be made.

After the evaluation is completed, an Eligibility Conference must be held to share the results of the evaluation and make decisions about the student's educational needs.  A decision will also be made regarding whether or not the student is eligible to receive special education services.  

Involvement and input during the Eligibility Conference is very important.  Information shared at that time will lead to a common understanding of the student's educational needs and ways school personnel and parents can work together to improve the student's performance.  The specific purpose of the Eligibility Conference is to:

1. Make sure there is a good understanding of the student's learning characteristics, skills and behaviors.

2. Determine whether the student's learning is being limited by certain learning, physical, or behavioral/emotional characteristics.

3. Determine if the student is eligible for special education and/or related services (e.g., speech, physical therapy, etc.) and, if so, the specific nature of the disability.

4. Determine individual educational needs, the way in which these needs can be met in the general education classroom, and the extent to which special educational services are needed.

What Will Happen at the Eligibility Conference?

The meeting will begin with the introduction of  team members that conducted the evaluation and other individuals participating in the meeting.  The basic meeting agenda is as follows:

1. A statement of the purpose of the meeting

2. A brief review of school history

3. A brief review of interventions tried prior to the evaluation

4. A summary of the Social Developmental Study (information shared by the parent with the social worker)

5. Teacher input related to day-to-day performance in the classroom, including any individualized assistance necessary. 

6. Input from other professionals who completed part of the evaluation/reevaluation (school psychologist, speech therapist, learning disability teacher, occupational therapist, etc.)  

7. Discussion of referral questions and evaluation results:  emphasis will be placed on identifying specific skills the student will need assistance with

8. Determination of whether the student is eligible for special education services by addressing the following questions:                                                          

• Does he/she meet state criterion for a specific disability category ?

• Does the disability cause learning to be limited (adverse affect)?

• Is there a need for specially designed instruction (special education)?

• Does he/she need related services to benefit from education?

10.  Consent for special education placement (initial evaluations) if the team decides that the student needs special education services.  Parent/guardian consent must be obtained prior to provision of services.