Evaluation and Assessment
Federal Requirements
Part C
Evaluation is the "procedures used by appropriate qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility, consistent with the state definition of infants and toddlers with disabilities". (34 CFR §303.321(a)(2)(i))
Assessment is "the ongoing procedures used by qualified personnel to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and the services appropriate to meet those needs and includes the assessment of the child and the assessment of the child's family." (34 CFR §303.321(a)(2)(ii))
While a "child's medical or other records may be used to establish eligibility … if those records indicate that the child's level of functioning in one or more of the developmental areas … constitutes a developmental delay or that the child otherwise meets the criteria for an infant or toddler with a disability … the lead agency or EIS provider must conduct assessments of the child and family." (34 CFR §303.321(a)(3)(i))
"Qualified personnel must use informed clinical opinion and multiple procedures when conducting an evaluation and assessment of the child." (34 CFR §303.321(a)(3)(ii))
If determined eligible, the child recieves a "family-directed assessment of the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family and the identification of the supports and services necessary to enhance the family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of that infant or toddler." (34 CFR §303.321(c)(2))
- 34 CFR §303.321 — Evaluation of the child and assessment of the child and family
- 34 CFR §303.322 — Determination that a child is not eligible
- 34 CFR §303.420 — Parental consent and ability to decline services
Part B, Section 619
34 CFR §300.15 defines evaluation as the procedures used in accordance with the following, and to determine whether a child has a disability and the nature and extent of the special education and related services that the child needs. Evaluation and assessment are not defined as separate processes:
- 34 CFR §300.300 — Parental Consent
- 34 CFR §300.301 — Initial Evaluations
- 34 CFR §300.302 — Screening for instructional purposes is not evaluation
- 34 CFR §300.303 — Reevaluations
- 34 CFR §300.304 — Evaluation Procedures
- 34 CFR §300.305 — Additional requirements for evaluations and reevaluations
- 34 CFR §300.306 — Determination of eligibility
- 34 CFR §§300.307–300.311 — Additional Procedures for Identifying Children With Specific Learning Disabilities
See also: Practice Improvement Tools: Assessment