What are my rights in special education evaluation and placement consideration?
Since the early 1980s, the state of Georgia has had a Student Support Team (SST) process. The SST process was developed to address the unique learning and behavioral needs of students and make modifications in the regular classroom before referring a student for special education evaluation or services.
The SST is a school-based committee comprised of educators and parents who plan alternative strategies for addressing the unique needs of students. Almost all students referred for special education services will have participated in the SST process prior to initiating a referral. The SST should refer students for evaluation for special education services only after reasonable classroom interventions of sufficient duration have been carefully attempted, without success; and when it is suspected that the cause of the problem may be related to a disability that cannot be addressed without special education services. Exceptions might include pre-school children; and seriously disabled students for whom SST would delay obviously needed special education services. They may bypass SST, with the reason documented.
For additional information about the SST process in the state of Georgia, click here. Additional information may also be obtained here.
When there is suspicion of a disability, a child is referred for special education evaluation. If you are a parent of a child who has been referred for special education evaluation or who is already receiving special education benefits, you and your child have certain rights which are protected by state or federal law. We want you to know about these rights. Click here to see what your Parental Rights are.
