High Quality Student Evaluations are based on rules established through both State and Federal special education law, along with best practice standards, and conducted by a highly skilled educational team. Evaluations require a systematic process that includes a thorough collection and review of relevant data from a variety of sources and result in the rejection or establishment of one of the 13 Michigan special education eligibility categories. Eligibility is contingent upon ruling out a number of confounding factors that may account for the student’s diminished performance including limited English proficiency, lack of appropriate instruction, and/or environmental, economic, or cultural disadvantage. Further, eligibility for special education exists only if both eligibility and need for special education services are present.