Timeline for Special Education Process

In most cases the process begins at the school level and follows the timeline below. If you believe that your student may need to be evaluated for Special Education services, please contact your child's school to start the process. 

  • A referral meeting is held with the school team and parents.

  • Initial referral for Special Education is made and a copy of procedural safeguards is given to parents.

  • If the decision is to evaluate, a Prior Written Notice for Consent for Initial Evaluation will be completed and sent home for parent consent (signature), and a copy of the procedural safeguards will be given to parents.

  • Written consent for evaluation is obtained from parent or guardian. 

  • School personnel have 60 calendar days from receipt of written consent to administer assessments to complete the evaluation for Special Education. 

  • Within the 60-day timeline an eligibility meeting is held to determine if the student is eligible for Special Education and related services.

  • If the student is found eligible for special education and related services, school personnel have an additional 30 days to convene an Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting and finalize the initial IEP.  Parents will receive a Notice of IEP meeting to confirm date/time to meet and review/discuss the information obtained.

  • IEP meeting convenes within 30 calendar days of completion of assessments. If a student qualifies for Special Education services, parents must sign a consent form to begin services.

  • Special Education services begin. Another IEP meeting will reconvene in a year from the date of the meeting to review services. 

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).