Jen: Can a School psychologist serve as an LEA rep on an IEP team for meeting purposes?
IEP Team: SERVING AS AN LEA REP ON IEP TEAMS
Special Education Law and Advocacy
Can the ESE Specialist also be the ESE Evaluator during an IEP Meeting? Does the LEA have to participate in the IEP Meeting? And if yes, what if they did not participate or attend the IEP Meeting but listed? Can the Director of ESE department also be the Task-Assigned Due Process Coordinator?
If you could please let me know, I would greatly appreciate it
Hello Christie: You don’t mention what your role is but if you work with IEP teams, you need to know about IEP teams, and IEP meetings. The federal special education law, IDEA, spells out the individuals who are legally required to attend IEP meetings.
You can start with this article: IEP Team Members and IEP Team Attendance.
Suggest you get a copy of our book – Wrightslaw: All About IEPs with over 200 frequently asked questions and answers about IEPs.
Wrightslaw: All About IEPs is available from the Wrightslaw Store Amazon, and other booksellers.
Can school counselors in the state of Florida serve as LEA’s? Our certificates are not in special education and we are not teachers. State certificates read “school counseling pk-12.”
What is an ESE?
Can the LEA serve as both the ESE teacher and LEA at an IEP meeting?
Yes, if they meet the state criteria for ESE teachers.
Can a teacher who services the student be the LEA at that student’s IEP meeitng?
Chelsea, see the comment below. It would be very unusual for a classroom teacher to meet these requirements.
Yes, if they meet the IDEA criteria, 300.321(a)(4). Qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of specially designed instruction, knowledgeable about general education curriculum, knowledgeable about availability of school resources.
I have heard of some instances in which the school psychologist also serves a dual role as LEA and school psych (e.g., serving as LEA and psych at an eval planning meeting, re-evaluation, or eligibility results). IDEA says that one can serve dual roles if they meet the criteria, but this seems questionable. I would love input regarding this issue. Thanks!