Rationale

This document is a revision of the Guidelines for Identifying and Educating Students with Serious Emotional Disturbance published by the CSDE in 1997. The document is intended to provide guidance to school teams, including parents, guardians, surrogate parents and mental health professionals, to make appropriate decisions regarding eligibility and specialized services for students with ED as defined in the IDEA 2004. The principles and practices provided in this document also assist school teams in addressing the needs of children experiencing significant behavioral and emotional difficulties and/or children suspected of having an emotional disturbance. The 2012-revised document, Guidelines for Identifying and Educating Students with Emotional Disturbance, has seven primary goals: 

1. To provide educators and mental health professionals in Connecticut with recommended practices and procedures concerning the provision of services to students experiencing behavioral, social or emotional issues within the context of an SRBI framework. 
2. To provide educators and mental health professionals in Connecticut with recommended practices and procedures concerning assessment of students. 
3. To provide educators and mental health professionals in Connecticut with recommended practices and procedures concerning eligibility determinations. 
4. To promote the use of statewide, uniform and valid identification processes and procedures that are nonbiased, culturally relevant and nondiscriminatory. 
5. To improve academic achievement and outcomes for students experiencing emotional disturbance. 
6. To provide updated reference to current legislation and regulation affecting students identified as eligible for special education due to an emotional disturbance. 
7. To provide updated reference to current best practices in meeting the needs of students identified as eligible for special education due to an emotional disturbance.