What to expect at an Admissions and Release Committee (ARC) Meeting
A Tip Sheet for Parents
Here are some common questions parents may have about the referral process for special education:
1. Q: An area of concern came up when my child was screened. What does this mean and what
happens next?
A: Screening is a snap shot that lets us know where your child is developmentally and if a
referral for further evaluation is needed. If a referral is needed, response to intervention (RTI)
will be implemented either at home or while your child attends school. If no improvement is
made, a referral to the local education agency (LEA)/school system will be made.
2. Q: I received a notice in the mail inviting me to a “multidisciplinary admissions release
committee meeting”. What happens next?
A: The notice you receive will contain information regarding the purpose of the meeting, date,
time, and location. It will also have a section for you to complete and return to the LEA/school
system indicating whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, need to have it rescheduled,
or will not be able to attend but want the meeting conducted and paperwork mailed to you.
3. Q: What can I expect during the initial ARC meeting?
A: During the first meeting, introductions will be made and parent rights/procedural safeguards
will be explained to you. There will also be a discussion regarding the results of the screening
and results of interventions provided. The committee will then make the determination as to
whether or not further evaluation is warranted. If further evaluation is needed, signed parental
permission must be provided in order to do so. Once parental consent is obtained, a date/time
for your child to be evaluated will be determined (if not that same day).
4. Q: Who will be in attendance at the ARC meeting? Can I request certain individuals to be at the
meeting?
A: The parents of the child. A representative from the LEA/school system to Chair the meeting. A
regular or special education teacher and related services personnel, if appropriate.
Yes. As a parent you can request that certain individuals such as Comprehensive Care or
other service providers that may be working with your child also be invited to the meeting.
5. Q: Once I have given written consent for an evaluation, how long does the LEA/school system
have to complete the evaluation and meet back with me to go over the results?
A: The LEA has 60 school days once written consent is provided by the parent to complete the
evaluation and conduct an ARC meeting to go over the results.
6. Q: If my child qualifies for services what happens next?
A: Within 30 school days of determining eligibility an Individual Education Program (IEP) will be
developed.
7. Q: What is an IEP?
A: An Individual Education Program or IEP is a document outlining the child’s present level of
performance (PLP) in the following areas: Communication, Academic Performance,
Health/Vision/Hearing/Motor Abilities, Social/Emotional Status, General Intelligence, and
Transition Needs. It will also include information about special factors for the IEP Developmentfor example: Does the child require assistive technology devices and services in order to
implement the IEP. There is also information about the goals and objectives that the teacher
and/or therapist will be working on with the child. Finally, there is information about the Least
Restrictive Environment (LRE) in which the student will/will not participate in general education
as well as information about special education services to be provided. Example: Jane will
receive speech therapy 30 minutes 5 times per month by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in
the resource room or regular education classroom.
8. Q: How long is an IEP valid?
A: A typical IEP is valid for 1 year. However as a parent, you can request an ARC meeting at any
time if you have concerns regarding the contents of the IEP.
9. Q: Can they implement the IEP and provide therapy to my child without my permission?
A: No. Written Parental Consent must be provided prior to services beginning. If you do not
want your child to have an IEP and receive services, you will be asked to sign a Denial of Services
form.
10. Q: What happens when the one year is up?
A. An ARC meeting will be scheduled to discuss the progress your child has made during the
year and to update the contents of the IEP. Example: Joe has mastered counting to 10/goal
has been met. The new goal will now be for Joe to be able to count to 20. If all of the goals
have been met and there are no longer concerns, your child may be released from Special
Education.
11. Q: What happens if additional questions and/or concerns come up after the meeting?
A: Let your child’s teacher know and he/she will provide you with the contact information for
the LEA/school system or the Special Services Coordinator for Head Start and they would be
happy to discuss them with you.
12. Q: Will my child’s information be kept confidential?
A: Yes. All information is kept confidential and on a “need to know” basis.
Always remember that you are your child’s first teacher and know your child best. As a parent,
you have the right to:
 Ask questions when things are not clear
 State any concerns that you have
 Speak up if you disagree with any of the information that you are provided with
 State the goals you want for your child