La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXV-1123

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section CXV-1123 - Educational Screening and Evaluation

A. All LEAs shall ensure that appropriate educational screening and evaluation services are provided to students.

B. Every student in public school in grades kindergarten-third shall be screened, at least once, for the existence of impediments to a successful school experience. No student shall be screened if his parent or guardian objects to such screening.

1. Such impediments shall include:

a. dyslexia and related disorders;

b. attention deficit disorder; and

c. social and environmental factors that put a student at risk.

2. Students in need of services and/or assistance shall have it provided to them in accordance with R.S. 17:7(11).

3. The screenings shall be done directly by elementary school counselors, pupil appraisal personnel, teachers, or any other professional employees of the LEA who have been appropriately trained, all of whom shall operate as advocates for the students identified as needing services or assistance. No screenings shall be done by persons who have not been trained to do such screenings.

C. Each LEA shall ensure that educational screening activities, conducted by a committee at the school level, shall be completed before a student is referred for an individual evaluation through pupil appraisal services.

D. Students who are experiencing learning or adjustment difficulties in a regular program, but are not thought to be exceptional, may receive support services from pupil appraisal by a referral from a committee at the school level. They should also be considered for such issues as dyslexia, attention deficit concerns, and any other area that might be contributing to their difficulties in the school setting.

E. Students thought to be exceptional shall be provided an individual evaluation by qualified personnel.

F. The LEA shall ensure that no student shall be placed in special education without a valid and current individual evaluation and an IEP signed by the student's parent(s).

G. Re-evaluation of exceptional students shall occur at least every three years unless the parent and the public agency agree that a re-evaluation is not necessary.

H. The LDOE-selected dyslexia screener shall be administered by a classroom teacher to each student in the second half of kindergarten and to a student at any grade level upon request of a teacher, parent, or legal guardian, to determine whether a student is at risk for dyslexia

1. If the results of such screening indicate that a student is at risk for dyslexia, the parent or guardian shall be notified of the results of the screening within 30 days.

2. Each public school governing authority shall annually submit a report to the LDOE by December fifteenth that shall include:

a. the number of students at each grade level who are identified as having dyslexia;

b. for students with a Section 504 Plan identified as having dyslexia, the number shall include the number initially identified during the preceding school year and the total number by grade level;

c. for students with an IEP identified as having a specific learning disability-dyslexia, the number shall include the number initially identified during the preceding school year and the total number by grade level.

NOTE: Refer to Bulletin 135 - Health and Safety, §301

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXV-1123

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:1277 (June 2005), amended LR 39:2208 (August 2013), Amended LR 50681 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:7(11) and R.S. 17:392.1.