Testing
The best way to determine the extent of a child’s needs is through comprehensive screening
and evaluations conducted by our seasoned professionals. Working with your staff, GPS will
evaluate students using the most current methodologies in the following areas:
*Cognition
*Achievement-mastery level and grade level
*Emotional/social
*Language development
After a referral is initiated and parental consent obtained, a GPS licensed school psychologist will consult and work cooperatively with school administrators, special education program directors, teachers, and parents in evaluating the student. This usually involves performing assessments using a variety of techniques and tools.
An evaluation may include the following: an educational evaluation, a psychological evaluation, a social history (a history of the student’s development based largely on an interview with the parent), and an observation of the student in his or her classroom. It can also include other evaluations to determine the source of the student’s difficulties, including a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) if the student’s behavior interferes with learning.
IEP/MET MEETINGS
Once the evaluation is complete and the findings of the evaluation have been reported per federal and state guidelines, the information and recommendations are shared with the parents through an IEP/MET meeting. GPS will schedule the IEP/MET meeting, during which the parent is told if the student is eligible for special education. If the student is eligible, an IEP is created for the student.
The IEP is a legal document that includes the student’s present levels of educational performance, a list of measurable goals and objectives; and related services, such as curriculum modifications and supplementary aids. Also included is an explanation of how often the student will participate in the general education population, when the services and modifications will begin, and the location of those services and modifications.