Confidentialty/Procedural Safeguards
IDEA provides the opportunity for the parents of a child with a disability to examine all records relating to that child and to participate in all meetings with respect to the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of that child. The concept of FAPE (free, appropriate public education) and the right to an independent educational evaluation of the child is detailed in the section under confidentiality and procedural safeguards.
Prior written notice as well as the parent handbook “Whose IDEA is This?” must be given prior to evaluations and other changes in regard to the service provided to a student with a disability. Parents must give written permission to proceed with multi-factored evaluations and the placement of a child in special education. If a disagreement between the parents and the MFE Team and/or the IEP Team exists, procedures are in place for mediation.