Referral Information

Referral for Special Education:

The referral process starts with recommendations from either: teachers, parents, or other professionals. The referral works in conjunction with the Instructional Support Team (IST) that works with struggling students and their teachers. The IST works to ensure that the referral is appropriate and that general education options are explored.

Once a referral is determined to be necessary by the IST, or LWISD receives a referral request from parent or outside agency, a campus administrator or designee will meet with Parents to discuss the referral process, fill out paperwork, get consent to evaluate and inform parents of legal rights and responsibilities. Parents will receive documents detailing parent rights.

When the referral is received in the special education office, the Evaluation Team will meet to review the referral information. Information reviewed includes data from the teachers, parents and outside sources, as appropriate. The team will determine the scope of the evaluation.

According to federal law, LWISD has 60 days from referral to conduct a Full Individual Evaluation and then 30 additional days to meet and hold an Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meeting.

An Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee will meet to discuss eligibility and if eligible, to develop an Individual Education Program (IEP). Committee members, including parents, will discuss and agree upon an appropriate educational program and placement for the student.

Categories: deaf-blidness, emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, visually impaired, auditorially impaired, orthopedically impaired, other health impairments, multiple disabilities, autism, learning disabilities and speech impairments.

LWISD Special Services Referral Information

Special Services Home Staff Director's Page Legal Resources Educator Resources Parent Resources Referral Info

Social Workers

Social Workers' Page Resources Section 504/Dyslexia services Instructional Support Team (IST) Parenting Love and Logic

Lake Worth ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or disability in providing educational services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and section 504 of the rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.