If your child has been facing difficulty in school, you may want to have him or her evaluated. This will tell you if there’s a larger underlying cause, or if it’s just something that’ll pass. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to request an evaluation, and what you can expect from it.
Know Your Options
First of all, you have choices in how and where the evaluation takes place.
One option is to go through your child’s school district. They must provide your child with an educational evaluation upon your request, but only if they agree that it’s necessary. They do have the right to deny the evaluation, but will provide you with their reasoning.
If the school denies your request, or you’d rather have more options, you may make arrangements with an outside provider. This would be at your own expense. In this case, the school doesn’t need to approve it, as you are hiring an outside professional to administer the test.
In some cases, your child may be entitled to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). This is where an outside evaluation takes place, but the school pays for it. You would request an IEE if you disagree with the determination made following the school’s evaluation, or if you feel the evaluation was lacking in any way. The school must then either agree to the IEE, or request a “due process” hearing, in which they will defend the results of their initial evaluation. So while schools don’t necessarily have to agree to an IEE, they also can’t outright refuse. And often times, agreeing to the IEE is easier than requesting a hearing.
What to Expect
The content of your child’s evaluation will depend on the specific issues being addressed. Most schools have a special education team, often referred to as the “Committee on Special Education” (CSE). They determine which tests the child should receive. These can include psychological testing, psycho-educational testing, interviews, a Functional Behavioral Assessment, or other related service evaluations like speech or physical therapy.
When using the school to administer the evaluation, there are always two professionals involved. Testing usually happens at the school, but you may occasionally need to take your child to an outside location if the school does not have the necessary resources or personnel for any component of the evaluation.
The evaluation almost never happens all at once. It can take place over several days, and not always back-to-back. In most cases, evaluators must complete their evaluation within 60 days of the referral. You may or may not be able to be present for the evaluation, depending on what it entails.
Getting an Evaluation Doesn’t “Mean” Anything!
If you’ve struggled with the decision to get your child tested, know there is no harm in getting information. Just because you’ve decided to pursue an evaluation, it doesn’t detract from the amazing kid you’ve always known. Getting an evaluation just means you’ll have some clarity on what’s going on in his or her brain! It will tell you whether there are supports and services he or she will benefit from, or it will simply give you peace of mind.
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