Special Education Testing

Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/NEISEC Child Find, Referral for Special Education Services:

Any individual (ie: parent, teacher, principal) suspecting that a child has a disability that could require special education services should contact the building principal and/or counselor to discuss options.  The school may suggest the following:

  • Providing additional support in the classroom before a referral to special education.

  • Reviewing your child’s school performance with the school’s general education intervention team or building-based support team. 

  • Investigating your child’s eligibility for a 504 plan.

  • Refer your child for a special education evaluation.

 

Every effort will be made to assist the child at the building level before the school initiates a referral.  If strategies fail, the school will seek permission for testing from the parent.  

 

If one or more of the above options is implemented at any time before, during, or after, the parent may request an evaluation to determine whether their child may be eligible for special education services. This request should be communicated to the building principal.  The school must respond with written notice to a request for an evaluation made by a parent to licensed personnel within 10 instructional days of receiving the request.

 

Navigating the Course is an overview and a practical resource to assist families in navigating the special education rules.  Questions regarding Child Find can be directed to the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative at 260-347-5236

For preschool-age referrals,


If the child is preschool age (3-5), the request for testing should be directed to the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative at 260-347-5236.

Child Find

Child Find Procedures:


This notice contains the Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative (NEISEC) procedures for special education child find.


Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative Child Find Assurances:

  1. Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative takes the responsibility of establishing, maintaining, and implementing written procedures that ensure the location, identification, and evaluation of all students three (3) years of age, but less than twenty-two (22) years of age, who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of severity of their disabilities including children who:

    1. Have legal settlement within the jurisdiction of the Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative catchment area

    2. Attend a nonpublic school, are served by an agency, or live in an institution within the  Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative catchment area.

    3. Are homeless

    4. Are wards of the state of Indiana

    5. Are highly mobile, including migrants 

    6. Are suspected of being students with disabilities in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade


Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative Child Find Activities:

  1. Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative provides contact information to the local newspaper and/or other media outlets stating where to call to refer a student for an evaluation.

  2. Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative provides contact information via the GKB/NEISEC websites and social media platforms for referring a student for an evaluation.

  3. Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative will collaborate with outside agencies and parents regarding referrals.

  4. Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative provides a handout to partnering local agencies on how to refer a student for an evaluation, including school districts, community preschools, childcare centers, and the Indiana Department of Child Services located in DeKalb, Noble. LaGrange and Steuben Counties.


Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD/NEISEC Child Find, Referral for Process for Special Education Services

A student’s parent or school personnel working with the student may make a referral or request for an educational evaluation. If the parent makes the request, the request must be made verbally or in writing to licensed personnel, such as a teacher, principal, or special education director. It is always a good idea for the parent to put the request in writing. Within 10 school days after the parent requests an educational evaluation, the school must provide the parent with written notice responding to the request, as well as a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards (NOPS). If the school makes the referral for the evaluation, the school must provide the parent with written notice requesting consent to evaluate. 


The Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative is an additional point of contact. Parents and school staff may reach out to the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative for assistance in initiating special education by contacting:

Executive Director, Wendy Lane-Ginder, wginder@neisec.com 260-347-5236, 260.242.7078

DeKalb County Director, Rachel Burley, rburley@neisec.com, 260.242.8804

Superintendent Garrett-Keyser-Butler CSD, 260.357.3185