Manifestation Determination

When a student enrolled in the Special Education program receives disciplinary action, the IEP team meets to determine if the student's actions were a result of their disability. This is called a manifestation determination review (MDR).

Manifestation Determination link

Before the IEP team meets, they will need to invite the parents to the meeting.

1. Create a Notification of Conference (rev 8/24).
2. Enter the date.
3. Provide meeting details, including date, time, and location.
4. Indicate that the purpose of the conference is Manifestation Determination Review.
5. Fill out the rest of the document and add a signature.
6. Share the document with the parents.
7. Mark the document complete.

At the meeting, the IEP team should review all relevant information and make a manifestation determination.

1. Create an Individualized Education Program (rev 7/22).
2. Enter the date.
3. Select Manifestation Determination for the purpose of conference.
4. In Section R, click add Manifestation Determination.
5. Summarize relevant information.
6. Decide whether:
   • The conduct was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the student's disability.
   • The conduct was the direct result of the school district's failure to implement the IEP.
7. Make a determination about whether the behavior was or was not a manifestation of their disability.
8. Fill out the rest of the document and add signatures on the Cover page.
9. Mark the document complete.

After the meeting, the team should send a formal communication of the results to the parents.

1. Create a Notification of Conference Recommendations.
2. Enter the date.
3. Provide meeting details.
4. Select the appropriate determination:
   • Was determined that the disciplinary code violation(s) was related to your child's disability or
   • Was determined that the disciplinary code violation(s) was not related to your child's disability
5. Fill out the rest of the document and add a signature.
6. Share the document with the parents.
7. Marked complete.

If the behavior was a manifestation of the student's disability, the team must:

• Review and revise the student's IEP
• Conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment if one has not been completed yet
• Create or modify/review the Behavior Intervention Plan

If the behavior was not a manifestation of the student's disability, the district may apply relevant disciplinary procedures in the same manner as students without a disability.