A special education evaluation will show if a child has a disability and needs specialized instruction and support.
These evaluations go by many names, including special education assessment, school evaluation, and IEP evaluation.
An evaluation for special education will show a child’s strengths and challenges.
When kids are having trouble with academics or behavior, there’s a process that schools can use to find out what’s causing these struggles. This process is called an “evaluation for special education.” The goal is to see if a child has a disability and needs specialized instruction and support.
A evaluation involves a series of steps:
Having the school and family agree that a child needs an evaluation
Gathering school data, like test scores and discipline records
Giving questionnaires to teachers and parents or caregivers (and sometimes to the child) to get a full picture of how the child is doing at school and at home
Having the child tested by a psychologist to see how the child thinks and solves problems
Having the child tested by at least one other professional, like a speech therapist for children who have trouble expressing themselves
Observing the child in a classroom or other school setting
Meeting to discuss the evaluation’s findings and decide if the child qualifies for special education
Federal law says schools need to complete the evaluation process within 60 days. But some states have shorter timelines.
The evaluation process can create lots of different emotions for families. But after the evaluation, they should have a clear picture of their child’s strengths and challenges and an understanding of how to help their child thrive.
School districts are required to evaluate any child who may need special education services. This includes kids who are homeschooled or go to private school.
A federal law called the (IDEA) says these evaluations must be free to families. The part of the law that covers evaluations is called Child Find.
Some families may prefer to get a private evaluation, which can cost thousands of dollars.
A school evaluation can look at behavior challenges like trouble paying attention. And kids can qualify for school supports for these kinds of behavioral challenges.
But a school can’t diagnose a child with ADHD or any other health condition. If families want a medical diagnosis, they need to go to a health care provider.
Families don’t need to wait until their kids are old enough to go to school to start getting support for a disability. Kids from birth through age 3 can be evaluated for free to find out if they qualify for services.
Teens who are planning for college may want an evaluation in high school to help them qualify for on college admissions testing, like the SAT or ACT, or in classes once they get to college.
College students can’t get free evaluations through their local school district. But they may be able to get free or low-cost evaluations elsewhere. The same is true for adults.
The more families learn about evaluations, the more confident they’ll feel about advocating for their child. Learn more about key steps in the evaluation process:
