Once special education services begin, a reevaluation must occur at least once every three years.1 The triennial evaluation operates on the same timelines as the initial evaluation, and the deadline can be extended by agreement of the LEA and parent provided that the reevaluation is completed on or prior to the three-year anniversary date.2 The LEA must conduct the reevaluation earlier if the LEA determines an earlier reevaluation is warranted by the educational or related service needs of a student, if the student’s teacher or parent requests a reevaluation, or if a significant change in placement to a more restrictive environment is proposed that would result in a student being in a regular class for less than 40% of the day.3 A reevaluation must also occur before removing a student no longer suspected of having an exceptionality from special education by terminating eligibility.4
An evaluation coordinator must be assigned as part of a reevaluation, and the coordinator must review any evaluations or information provided by the parents or student.5 The coordinator must also review the student’s educational history, progress monitoring data, and data from student observations.6 The reevaluation must also satisfy any reevaluation requirements for the specific disabilities at issue and include the development or review of a Functional Behavioral Assessment (“FBA”) if behavior is a concern.7 Under Louisiana regulations, no other particular assessments are required as a part of a reevaluation unless a parent requests an assessment to determine the student’s educational needs or the LEA determines that additional data is needed.8 However, when a different exceptionality from the student’s current one is suspected, the reevaluation must follow the same initial criteria and procedures for the suspected exceptional as a required for an initial evaluation.9
- 120 U.S.C. § 1414(a)(2)(B); La. Bulletin 1508 § 304(b)(2).
- 2La. Bulletin 1508 § 1105(H).
- 3Id. § 1101(A).
- 4Id. § 1101(A)(4).
- 5Id. § 1105(A).
- 6Id.
- 7Id.
- 8La. Bulletin 1508 § 1105(D)–(F). However, the federal regulations do not distinguish between evaluation procedures for initial evaluations and reevaluations, suggesting that LEAs must use a variety of assessment tools for both types of evaluations. 34 C.F.R. § 300.304.
- 9La. Bulletin 1508 § 1105(F)(1).