The IEP team must determine if a referral to MSSD is the most appropriate placement for the student to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The IEP team should also consider the range of placement options available for the student. Once considered, the district may refer the student to the MSSD program by submitting the referral form (sent to local district with eligible for MSSD letter), a copy of the amended IEP (the amend IEP reflects 1800 minutes of service per week) and a copy of the Notice of Action.

The documentation required is explained in detail in the Eligibility Determination Resource Guide on this website. If all documentation required is not submitted, a letter will be sent to the district requesting the information.An eligibility determination can not be made without all required components.

Essentially, the student must be functioning overall in the severe range of ability (including adaptive behavior) of below four standard deviations below the mean and MSSD must be the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for the student. Both criteria must be met. Decisions on eligibility are made by a team of MSSD personnel and the decision on such eligibility is not appealable. The home district may resubmit new information for consideration, but all information previously submitted will also be included in the decision-making process.

A sixty day interim placement in the MSSD may be available for students with severe disabilities who are changing school districts due to a change in residence. These students must have been receiving services in their local district; through cooperative arrangement by their home district with another school district; in a special school district; or, in an out-of-state program for students with severe disabilities.