No. A referral for special education assessment must initiate the assessment process and timelines and any use of the student study/success team (SST) process does not affect this obligation. There is no authority in law or regulation to require a pupil go through an SST before a referral for special education may be processed.
While the law requires the school district to consider and utilize, where appropriate, the resources of the general education program before making a referral for special education[1], the SST process cannot act as a substitute for or delay the special education assessment and IEP timelines without your consent.[2]
School districts may conduct screenings of students to determine instructional strategies for students who are not yet eligible for special education. But screening may not delay a special education evaluation, which must be completed within 60 days of receiving parental consent.[3]