Definition:

An exceptional student as defined in Rules 6A-6.03011 through 6A-6.03031, FAC, means any child or youth who requires special instruction or related services and is enrolled in or eligible for enrollment in the public schools of a district.

An exceptional student as defined in Rules 6A-6.03011 through 6A-6.03031, FAC, includes any exceptional child or youth enrolled in or eligible for enrollment in an educational program operated by the Department either directly or through grants or contractual agreement, pursuant to Section 230.23(4)(n), Florida Statutes.

The Department, grantee or contractor shall operate special programs for exceptional students consistent with all State Board of Education rules for special programs for exceptional students contained in Chapter 6A-6,FAC.

Eligibility Cycle

The diagram above summarizes the initial process for identification (pre-referral screening), referral, evaluation, staffing and placement of a student into an ESE program. Part of this process is repeated annually with a review of the progress the student has made with their Individual Educational Plan (developed at the initial eligibility staffing). To get a better understanding of the entire process the following information lays out those steps, along with links to the various forms you as a parent or legal guardian of an exceptional student will encounter at each stage of the process.

Major elements include:

• Pre-referral and Referral Activities

• Evaluations - Independent/Private (For information about psychological evaluations provided by Leon County Schools, you may contact the Student Services office at 488-2275.)

• Staffing

1. Initial Eligibility Staffing
2. Transfer (Within Florida) IEP Conference
3. Referral & Staffing for Physical/Occupational Therapy Programs
4. Re-Evaluation Staffing
5. Post Staffing
6. Articulation/IEP Conferences
7. Dismissal Staffing

• ESE Forms provides a list of all forms discussed in the previous sections. The forms are presented in an Adobe Acrobat format (PDF), which will permit you to view and print them (if desired) as they were originally designed (regardless of platform or type of printer).  In order to do that you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer. If you do not, you can download it free of charge from Adobe.