EDU8018X - Recognizing When to Refer – Pre-Referral Indicators

Course Description

In this course, you’ll learn how students are identified for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We’ll walk through the full process, starting with early interventions and ending with eligibility decisions and services, so you can better understand your role in supporting students at every step. We’ll cover: 

• The three stages of identification: pre-referral, referral, and identification
• How the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) guides early decisions
• An overview of student and family rights under IDEA
• What happens in a comprehensive evaluation
• The difference between pre-referral and formal identification
• Important IEP timelines for educators
• Your role in ensuring timely, ethical, student-focused practices

Key Benefits

• 100% online self-paced course.
• No prior experience required.
• No textbooks and other materials required for purchase.

Learning Modules Include

• Unit 1: Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) 
• Unit 2: Three Stages of Referral 
• Unit 3: Special Education Procedural Safeguards Under IDEA and IEP Timelines 

Course Learning Outcomes

• Recognize early indicators that may warrant a referral for additional support.
• Document and communicate concerns effectively to student support teams.

Requirements to Enroll

No application is needed to enroll. All learners are eligible to enroll in the course. There are no admission requirements. It is recommended that learners have a high school diploma or GED, and have basic computer and internet knowledge.

Estimated Time to Completion

This course can be completed in 1 hour.

Access Time

Learners will have access to their course learning modules for up to 12 months from the date of enrollment.

CEUs and PDUs

• CEUs- 0.1 National University Continuing Education Units

Certificate of Completion

After completion of all course units and earning a 100% class progress, learners will be awarded an official National University Professional and Continuing Education Certificate of Completion.

Refund Policy

We at National University want all of our students to have a positive and rewarding learning experience. In the event that a student is not completely satisfied with a course, we offer a refund policy to ensure satisfaction.

To be eligible for a refund, the student must submit a written request, including a valid reason, within 9 calendar days of registering for the course. Additionally, the student must not have attempted more than 25% of the course.

To request a refund, email PACE@nu.edu and include your full name, student ID, and course name. Your reason for requesting a refund will be carefully reviewed, and we reserve the right to refuse a refund if we determine the request to be invalid.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for a refund, we will issue a refund to your original method of payment within 60 days of the refund approval.

How to Access My Course

Allow up to 1 hour after enrollment for the course to appear in Brightspace. (An error will appear if accessed before 1 hour)

Follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your student portal at westraining.nu.edu
2. Click “Login”, then “Student Login”
3. Log in using User Name (email address) and Password
4. In your PACE student portal, click on “Brightspace LMS” on the left-hand navigation panel.
5. Under My Courses, click the course title to get started.