For a student with a disability to access a free appropriate public education (FAPE), what must their parents/guardians do?

The requirement for parents or guardians to give written consent for their child's educational evaluations is crucial for ensuring that the student receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This consent is a legal prerequisite that allows school personnel to proceed with necessary assessments to determine the student’s specific educational needs and eligibility for special education services.

By providing this consent, parents enable the school to gather important information about their child's strengths and challenges, which is essential in developing an appropriate Individualized Education Program (IEP). The evaluation process is designed to identify any disabilities and inform tailored educational strategies that align with the child's needs.

Other options, while they may relate to the educational process in different ways, do not reflect the mandatory steps that parents or guardians must take to initiate the evaluation and eligibility determination processes required for FAPE. This makes the need for providing written consent critical in the context of special education services.