REQUESTING AN EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION

OR EDUCATION RE-EVALUATION ROAD MAP

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As a parent or guardian, you have the right to request an evaluation for your child to receive special education services. A letter may not be enough and the school may have you also fill out a form to begin the process. If the school offers a re-evaluation, don't waive it. If they deny it, the district opens up to liability. Re-evaluations from school districts occur every three years and for children with an intellectual disability every 2 yrs.

 

If you are not satisfied with the evaluation from the school district, you can check that you don't agree on the NOREP and sign it. You can also specify the specific concerns you have about the evaluation if you choose to. You can also request an independent evaluation be done by a third party. If the school misses the 3 year mark, you can request an IEE. It can be challenging to find someone and be sure you know their views on school inclusion practices by conducting a short interview. This page on the Learning Disabilities Association of America website goes into much more detail about the right to an evaluation. Click on the link to read more.

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A Family's Guide to Understanding Annotated Evaluation and Reevaluation Reports

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​Need help writing a letter?  Click on sample letter requesting an evaluation.

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Click on sample letter requesting a re-evaluation.

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Click on sample letter requesting an independent evaluation.

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Click here to access PaTTAN's Parent Initiated Evaluation and LEA Initiated Evaluation/ IEP Process Road Map

Click here to access PaTTAN's Parent Initiated Re-evaluation and LEA Initiated Re-Evaluation/ IEP Process Road Map

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What tests are used to assess students?

 

Standardized General Intelligence Tests

• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)-Generates a Full Scale IQ (formerly known as an intelligence quotient or IQ score) that represents a child's general intellectual ability.

• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI)-designed for children ages 2 years 6 months to 7 years 7 months.

• Woodcock–Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ IV)-may be administered to children from age two right up to the oldest adults.

 

Non-Verbal IQ tests are designed to give a comprehensive, standardized assessment of general intelligence with entirely nonverbal administration and response formats.

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• The Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (CTONI) - The CTONI states that it is a language free intelligence test that requires no reading, writing, speaking or listening on the child's part. It is designed for children and adults, and can be given to individual children or in small groups in about 15 minutes.

• The Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT) - The UNIT can be used on children from age 5-age 17 is nonverbal and response is done by 8 hand or body gestures. There are three testing options available: Abbreviated, Standard, and Extended batteries. Can be used for deaf and hearing impaired students.

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​How to Respond When School Reduces or Denies Services

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Summary of Findings, Review of Evaluation and Follow-Up

When you receive the evaluation, look for common threads. Ask the psychologist who did the eval to explain things you don't understand. You can ask for something that isn't the norm.

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Tip: Pay attention to achievement and ability discrepencies.