Threat Assessment Meets IDEA: When Safety Concerns Collide with Special Education
Threat assessment and special education requirements can intersect in complicated—and high-stakes—ways. This practical webinar, presented by school attorney Brandon K. Wright, will help special education leaders navigate threat assessments involving students with disabilities, including when disability-related factors may be relevant to the behavior and when actions taken following a threat assessment may trigger IDEA discipline requirements or a Manifestation Determination Review. We’ll explore the role of special education personnel, the risks of treating a threat assessment as a substitute for IDEA procedures, and when IEP team involvement and procedural safeguards come into play. The session will also address practical strategies for intervention, monitoring, documentation, and responding to patterns of concerning behavior while balancing school safety with the student’s rights under the IDEA.