Special Education in Tennessee
In Tennessee, children three years of age and older who need significant modifications in their educational programs may be eligible for special-education services through their school district. These five steps can help you get started in finding information about the special-education process in Tennessee and making the contacts you'll need.
1. Familiarize yourself with the special-education process in Tennessee with tools and resources on the Tennessee Department of Education site, including a Special Education Manual and a Responsiveness to Intervention Manual.
Other helpful resources include the Parent Manual downloadable from the STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents) site and "Your Rights as a Parent of a Child in Special Education," "Who can get special education?" "What Is an IEP?" and "Writing an IEP," from the Nashville Public Defender's office, and state-law resources from SEAC (Special Education Advocacy Center).
2. In Tennessee, the process of referring a child from birth through high school for special services is called Child Find, as described in the "Rules of the State Board of Education" (page 10) downloadable from the Tennessee Department of Education site and materials on the Nashville Public Schools and Williamson County Schools sites. Schools have the responsibility to identify students in need of special-education services, and parents can initiate that process by making a request in writing and giving it to the school principal or the district's supervisor of special education. You can find a downloadable sample copy of a request form on the Tennessee Department of Education site.
If your child is not yet in school and you're not sure who to contact, you can consult the listing of Tennessee special-education supervisors on the Department of Education site, find the line for your school district, and e-mail or phone the supervisor for further information on how to proceed.
3. After the referral for special education is made, your child will be evaluated to determine whether he or she is eligible for special-education services. Download a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards to understand your rights throughout the process. You should be kept informed throughout the process of evaluation, and no actions or changes in your child's program can be made without your knowledge, participation, and permission. Start getting used to forms like "Invitation to a Meeting" and "Prior Written Notice" coming home—ideally in the mail, but you may want to check your child's book bag to make sure they don't get stuffed in there.
4. If your child is found eligible for special-education services, the school will plan an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child. Learn more about IEPs and other special-education terms and offerings from the Special-Education FAQ on this About.com site. Wondering what an IEP looks like? Download a sample from the Department of Education site.
5. During the evaluation and IEP process, and throughout your child's educational career, take advantage of the assistance offered by STEP (Special Education Advocacy Center), a parent advocacy organization that offers support and workshops for families of children with special needs. Other organizations that may be worth seeking out are the Disability Law and Advocacy Center, Tennessee Voices for Children, and the Tennessee Disability Coalition. If you have difficulties with the school district down the line, SEAC (Special Education Advocacy Center) has forms for submitting an administrative complaint, making a request for due process or mediation, or reporting restraint and isolation. A fact sheet on the site has more about the latter topic.
1. Familiarize yourself with the special-education process in Tennessee with tools and resources on the Tennessee Department of Education site, including a Special Education Manual and a Responsiveness to Intervention Manual.
Other helpful resources include the Parent Manual downloadable from the STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents) site and "Your Rights as a Parent of a Child in Special Education," "Who can get special education?" "What Is an IEP?" and "Writing an IEP," from the Nashville Public Defender's office, and state-law resources from SEAC (Special Education Advocacy Center).
2. In Tennessee, the process of referring a child from birth through high school for special services is called Child Find, as described in the "Rules of the State Board of Education" (page 10) downloadable from the Tennessee Department of Education site and materials on the Nashville Public Schools and Williamson County Schools sites. Schools have the responsibility to identify students in need of special-education services, and parents can initiate that process by making a request in writing and giving it to the school principal or the district's supervisor of special education. You can find a downloadable sample copy of a request form on the Tennessee Department of Education site.
If your child is not yet in school and you're not sure who to contact, you can consult the listing of Tennessee special-education supervisors on the Department of Education site, find the line for your school district, and e-mail or phone the supervisor for further information on how to proceed.
3. After the referral for special education is made, your child will be evaluated to determine whether he or she is eligible for special-education services. Download a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards to understand your rights throughout the process. You should be kept informed throughout the process of evaluation, and no actions or changes in your child's program can be made without your knowledge, participation, and permission. Start getting used to forms like "Invitation to a Meeting" and "Prior Written Notice" coming home—ideally in the mail, but you may want to check your child's book bag to make sure they don't get stuffed in there.
4. If your child is found eligible for special-education services, the school will plan an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child. Learn more about IEPs and other special-education terms and offerings from the Special-Education FAQ on this About.com site. Wondering what an IEP looks like? Download a sample from the Department of Education site.
5. During the evaluation and IEP process, and throughout your child's educational career, take advantage of the assistance offered by STEP (Special Education Advocacy Center), a parent advocacy organization that offers support and workshops for families of children with special needs. Other organizations that may be worth seeking out are the Disability Law and Advocacy Center, Tennessee Voices for Children, and the Tennessee Disability Coalition. If you have difficulties with the school district down the line, SEAC (Special Education Advocacy Center) has forms for submitting an administrative complaint, making a request for due process or mediation, or reporting restraint and isolation. A fact sheet on the site has more about the latter topic.
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