This word gets thrown around in Special Education. If your child is in special education, you need to know what a triennial evaluation is and what it means for your child.
What is a Triennial Evaluation?
Every three years a committee must convene to determine if the current disability category is appropriate. School systems are required to complete this review and if needed complete the triennial evaluation within three years from the original eligibility date. Three years from the initial eligibility is the triennial. Parents are invited to attend this review that will occur a few months before the triennial date. Schools will review previous evaluations, current academic data, and the present IEP. If there is enough data to support that the student continues to meet the criteria, or if there have been no significant changes, the committee may determine the student to be continued eligible for special education and related services. Often the school will recommend a full evaluation. This may be due to procedures within the school. For example, some schools require that a full evaluation be completed every three years, or at least on the first eligibility date. If there have been changes, or document progress, a full evaluation or testing in particular areas may be recommended.
Can the school take my child out of special education at any time?
Once a student is identified as a student with a disability who is eligible to receive special education and related services, they continue to be eligible until it is determined that they no longer meet criteria. Typically an evaluation will occur, followed by an eligibility meeting to determine if the student is still eligible for special education services. Parents must sign to dismiss from special education. If parents do not sign, the current IEP will remain in effect. Schools are permitted to go to Due Process if a parent will not sign, but they do not always do this. There is a lot of debate as to whether schools should have the right to terminate services without parent permission. Voice your opinion on this thread from LDHelpOnline.
What role does a parent play in the Triennial Review Process?
Parents do have input in the review process. If the school does not want to test, but the parents wish for the triennial evaluation to be completed, the parent should make this request. Testing can not be conducted without signed parent permission.
See Also:
A Parent's Guide to Special Education Assessment
Special Education Resources for Parents
2 comments:
I am a new school psychologist in a middle school of about 1200 kids. There are tons of triennial reviews - we do not invite the parents in for every one - we do a re-evaluation report with out data, include parent input regarding their satisfaction with thier child's program and then continue services. If there are extenuating circumstance or a change is needed then we meet with parents. Is this okay? Are we really supposed to be inviting parents in for a meeting to review data?
I would look into it more for your state, but I believe it's federal law. Since it is a function of the IEP committee, I believe it is mandatory for parents to be invited, but they do not need to attend. Are you adding data about parent satisfaction without the parents there? Sometimes old practices that aren't necessarily best practices get passed down, even as laws change and no one notices. Good luck.
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