Elementary and Middle School

If You Think Your Child May Have a Disability That Impacts Their Learning

The Referral Process

A child doesn’t have to be failing to make a referral. Some other reasons to make a referral include:

• Discipline issues
• Unsatisfactory performance on group achievement tests
• Extreme and ongoing anxiety about school
• Difficulty getting along with others
• A medical diagnosis of a disability

If a parent suspects their child has a disability (or has a diagnosis) and needs special education, they may make a referral to the school or LEA (local education agency, which is another term for the “school district”). Anyone, including a teacher, doctor, therapist, or anyone else, can make a referral. Making the referral in writing and explaining why you believe your child may have a disability that requires special education will help to ensure that your concerns are understood and addressed appropriately. If the referral comes from someone other than the parent, including from the child’s teacher, the parent must be immediately notified in writing that a referral has been made. 

Who do I send the referral to?

If parents suspect or know that their child has a disability that may require special education, they may make a referral to the superintendent, special education director, classroom teacher, building principal, or other appropriate individual to have their child evaluated for special education consideration.

The best practice is to make the referral in writing, including the date, the child’s name, and the reasons why you suspect the child may have a disability that requires special education. Parents will find it helpful to keep copies of the referral and all other correspondence with the school for their own records. The Parent Information Center has a Sample Referral Template you can use to write your referral.

Additional Education Resources