Iowa Admin. Code rr. 281-120.320

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, September 4, 2024

Rule 281-120.320 - Screening procedures

(1)General.

a. The department may adopt procedures, consistent with this rule, to screen children under the age of three who have been referred to the Part C program to determine whether they are suspected of having a disability under this chapter. If a public agency or EIS provider proposes to screen a child, the agency or EIS provider must:

(1) Provide the parent notice under rule 281-120.421 ( 34CFR303) of the public agency's or EIS provider's intent to screen the child to identify whether the child is suspected of having a disability and include in that notice a description of the parent's right to request an evaluation under rule 281-120.321 ( 34CFR303) at any time during the screening process; and

(2) Obtain parental consent as required in subrule 120.420(1) before conducting the screening procedures.

b. If the parent consentsto the screening and the screening or other available information indicates that the child is:

(1) Suspected of having a disability, after notice is provided under rule 281-120.421 ( 34CFR303) and once parental consent is obtained as required in rule 281-120.420( 34CFR303), an evaluation and assessment of the child must be conducted under rule 281-120.321 ( 34CFR303); or

(2) Not suspected of having a disability, the public agency or EIS provider must ensure that notice of that determination is provided to the parent under rule 281-120.421 ( 34CFR303), and that the notice describes the parent's right to request an evaluation.

c. If the parent of the child requests and consents to an evaluation at any time during the screening process, evaluation of the child must be conducted under rule 281-120.321 ( 34CFR303), even if the public agency or EIS provider has determined under subparagraph 120.320(1)"b"(2) that the child is not suspected of having a disability.

(2)Definition of screening procedures. As used in this rule, "screening procedures":

a. Means activities under subrule 120.320(1) that are carried out by, or under the supervision of, a public agency or EIS provider to identify, at the earliest possible age, infants and toddlers suspected of having a disability and in need of early intervention services; and

b. Includes the administration of appropriate instruments by personnel trained to administer those instruments.

(3)Condition for evaluation or early intervention services. For every child under the age of three who is referred to the Part C program or screened in accordance with subrule 120.320(1), the applicable agency is not required to:

a. Provide an evaluation of the child under rule 281-120.321 ( 34CFR303) unless the child is suspected of having a disability or the parent requests an evaluation under paragraph 120.320(1)"c"; or

b. Make Early ACCESS services available under this chapter to the child unless a determination is made that the child meets the definition of infant or toddler with a disability under rule 281-120.21( 34CFR303).

(4)Rules of construction.

a. This rule does not apply to activities undertaken by entities not regulated by this chapter, activities that are undertaken by grantees, signatory agencies, Early ACCESS providers prior to referral, activities undertaken after consent for an evaluation and assessment under rule 281-120.321 ( 34CFR303) is received, or to activities taken pursuant to an IFSP.

b. As a general rule, a public agency suspects a child is a child with a disability when the public agency is aware of facts and circumstances that, when considered as a whole, would cause a reasonably prudent public agency to believe that the child's performance might be explained because the child is an eligible individual under this chapter

Iowa Admin. Code rr. 281-120.320

ARC 0100C, IAB 4/18/12, effective 5/23/12

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024