1. No More “Speech Only” Evals Comprehensive Evaluations with Specific Speech/Language Concerns

2. Historically, An Informal Process The elementary classroom teachers asks the Speech/Language therapist to observe a child and a speech screening was done. Passed – no referral action Did not pass – student was evaluated for speech services “Speech Only” Evaluation No interventions attempted Separate process

3. Because the Regulations Say So! Comprehensive evaluation “The evaluation must be sufficiently comprehensive to identify all of the child’s special education and related services needs, whether or not commonly linked to the disability category being considered for the child.” Speech/Language is a category of disability, and not just a related service. So – everything applies! No more “speech only” evaluations

4. “We Think We Have a Child With a Disability” School Procedures: Student is part of the school’s RTI process and has progressed through Tiers 2 and 3, or the student may have completed including 4- 6 weeks of Speech/Language Interventions for students with specific speech concerns. This will be considered “S/L RTI”

5. S/L RTI : Requesting a Screening Old Way 1. Classroom teacher asks the S/L Therapist to do a Speech Screening Right Way 1. Classroom teacher confers with the school’s RTI Coordinator and together they complete A Request For S/L Screening and Intervention Form

6. S/L RTI : Completing a Screening Old Way 2. S/L Therapist completes a Speech Screening PASS – No Action DID NOT PASS – S/L Therapists initiates and completes a S/L evaluation Right Way 2. The RTI Coordinator routes completed S/LRequest Form to the S/L Therapist 3. S/L Therapist completes the screening 4. RTI Coordinator and S/L Therapist determine mutually agreeable day/time for an RTI meeting to discuss screening results.

7. S/L RTI – School Team Consideration 4. The Speech/Language Therapist shares the screening results with the school’s RTI team. If the student did not pass the screening, the RTI team directs the implementation of S/L Interventions and data collection. (4-6 weeks) S/L Articulation Intervention Data Sheets S/L Fluency Intervention Data Sheets S/L Language Intervention Data Sheets

8. The Exception… In the case of “Voice” issues or significantly severe “Language”, “Fluency”, or “Articulation” issues detected during the screening, the RTI team may complete the Comprehensive Student Review/Referral Form. (yellow form)

9. S/L RTI: Intervention 5. After 4-6 weeks of interventions, the S/L Intervention results are shared with the RTI team. If appropriate, the referral process is begun with the completion of the Comprehensive Student Review Form. The referral process proceeds with the steps outlined in the P-12 school referral process.

10. Follow the Referral Procedures “I Think We Have a Child with a Disability!” From here, the process follows the Elementary Special Education/Section 504 Referral Procedures

11. Parent Request… A parent request for a speech and language evaluation follows the same procedures for a parent request for a special education evaluation (Right side column on the Referral Procedures). Parents can be asked if they want to try interventions If parent choose NOT to do interventions, the evaluation will include the implementation of interventions. The intervention data will be reviewed at the eligibility meeting.

12. What About OT and PT? Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy are different because they are only related services. Related services are only provided to increase the child’s ability to benefit from the special education services You can’t have OT or PT without first suspecting or identifying an area of disability

13. This Means… OT and PT screening can only be requested by: Student IEP teams or IEP team members (for students already eligible for special education services under IDEA) School-based intervention and problem- solving teams as a part of RTI or intervention development for specific motor concerns Student Section 504 teams

14. Next, We Need to Talk With… Your RTI coordinator We’ll make an appointment to have an ESE administrator and your S/L Therapist meet with your RTI coordinator and go over these referral procedures. End of September

15. Questions? Send me an e-mail Want your entire staff trained? – get it on my calendar!