DESE shared some suggested recommendations in regards to Initial Evaluations, Reevaluations and IEP Team Meetings recently.  They acknowledge that due to the unexpected closures of in-person learning in the Spring that many annual review Team meetings, evaluations and/or parts of evaluations may have been postponed. That means that most districts have a backlog of both assessments and meetings that need to be addressed while at the same abiding by the existing deadlines/times lines for annual review Team meetings and evaluations for students who are newly referred and/or due for an evaluation.

What does this mean for you?  

IEP Teams must continue to conduct annual review Team meetings as they are due.

Districts are advised to update the IEP as though the student will be attending school full time in-person; however, given the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 virus, schools and districts must be prepared to be adaptable in their approach to delivery of IEP services, based on the current health information and trends at that time. As was the case when schools closed in March, any changes to service delivery should be documented in writing to the parent.

It is important to note that a change in the delivery of services due to a school’s change in learning model, in-person, hybrid or remote, as a result of COVID-19 does not result in a change in placement. The services outlined in the IEP remain and are considered “stay-put.”

Schools and districts must maintain open communication and collaboration with families as they respond to the trajectory of the virus and make decisions about the opening and/or closing of school buildings and settings and the learning models to be utilized

Have questions or concerns about your student? Contact us to discuss further:

E.M. Curran Legal LLC

10 Tower Office Park
Suite 314
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: 781-933-1542
Fax: 781-933-1549

ellen@emcurranlegal.com