The Lead Agency shall ensure that, subject to obtaining parental consent in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.420(a)(2), each child under the age of three (3) who is referred for evaluation or early intervention services under Part C of IDEA and suspected of having a disability, receives a timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of the child in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321.
In accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321(a)(2)(i), evaluation means the procedures used by qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility under Part C of IDEA, consistent with the definition of infant or toddler with a disability in 34 C.F.R. § 303.21 and § 3108. An initial evaluation refers to the child's evaluation to determine his or her initial eligibility under Part C of IDEA.
In accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321(b), no single procedure shall be used as the sole criterion for determining an infant or toddler's eligibility for services under Part C of IDEA.
In accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321(b), the evaluation for an infant or toddler must include the following procedures:
An infant or toddler's medical and other records may be used to establish eligibility (without conducting an evaluation of the child) in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321 if those records indicate that the child's level of functioning in one (1) or more of the developmental areas identified in 34 C.F.R. § 303.21(a)(1) constitutes a developmental delay or that the child otherwise meets the criteria for an infant or toddler with a disability under 34 C.F.R. § 303.21 and § 3108. If the child's Part C eligibility is established under this section, the Lead Agency or Early Intervention Service provider (EIS provider) must conduct assessments of the child and family in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 303.321 and § 3103.
If, based on the evaluation conducted under 34 C.F.R. § 303.321, the Lead Agency determines that a child is not eligible under Part C of IDEA, the Lead Agency must provide the parent with prior written notice required in 34 C.F.R. § 303.421 and include in the notice information about the parent's right to dispute the eligibility determination through dispute resolution mechanisms under 34 C.F.R. § 303.430 and § 3111, such as requesting a due process hearing or mediation or filing a state complaint.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-A3102