Eligibility for special education is determined by the case conference committee after an initial evaluation or reevaluation is completed. Out of state evaluations may or may not be used to determine eligibility if it conflicts with Indiana Special Education Law. This is will be determined by comparing the eligibility requirements for Indiana versus the out of state requirements. Additional testing may be needed if not all requirements were met by the out of state testing or if the eligibility determined out of state is not a category of special education in the state of Indiana.
Outside (private) evaluations from a private agency should be shared with the school and that data must be considered when completing an educational evaluation, however all eligibility decisions are case conference decision.
Note: Many states allow a student to be label Developmental Delay until age 8. Indiana is not one of these states. If a student moves to Indiana and is school aged (K-12), then a school aged label must be chosen for the student. The case conference committee can choose to use existing data or ask for a reevaluation.
The following eligibility categories exist in the state of Indiana:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Blind or Low Vision
- Cognitive Disability (Mild, Moderate, or Severe)
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Deaf-Blind
- Developmental Delay (Preschool only through age 5)
- Emotional Disability
- Language or Speech Impairment
- Multiple Disabilities
- Other Health Impairment
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability (in reading, written expression, oral expression, listening comprehension, or mathematics)
- Traumatic Brain Injury
The case conference committee discusses the eligibility requirements listed in Article 7, Indiana's Special Education Law, when determining eligibility. Eligibility criteria are listed in the subpages to the right.
Any services or accommodation can be provided under ANY eligibility determination if the case conference determines it is a need.