If you or your child's teacher is concerned about his ability to be successful in school, you may request help. That does not mean, however, that your child will receive special education services.

No Child Left Behind

With the recent legislation of No Child Left Behind, school districts are formalizing their efforts to help children succeed in the “regular classroom.” In many districts, a team of professionals will discuss classroom concerns at the request of parents or the teacher. This team meeting can take place for a student of any age. The team may offer suggestions to your child's teacher. Perhaps an observation will be made of the overall classroom to offer additional ideas for the teacher to try in the classroom.

Response to Intervention

Schools are also establishing Reading Intervention programs (a part of RTI — Response to Intervention) for children who score significantly behind their peers in reading fluency and comprehension. This is based on screenings conducted with all students periodically throughout the school year. Children in Reading Intervention do not have IEP goals in Reading.

Observation

If you or your child's teacher has a concern, your child may be observed. Sometimes an observation of the entire class is done to offer instructional or classroom management ideas to the teacher. If your child is being evaluated for special education services, he may be observed in the classroom, on the playground, or even the lunchroom to see how he functions in school settings with his peers. Your child's teacher or the person heading up the evaluation will let you know that your child will be observed. She will not (for obvious reasons) explain to your child that someone wants to see how well he is doing.