special education evaluations
School districts are required to identify and evaluate all children who may need special education services under a legal requirement called child find. An initial set of evaluations must include at least a psycho-educational evaluation, social history and classroom observation, and may include other evaluations. It also must include a recent physical evaluation, usually done by the child’s pediatrician and provided by the parent. The Department of Education (DOE) or a school district must assess students in all areas of suspected disability, it is a good idea to request an evaluation yourself if you feel that a child needs a particular type of evaluation. The Department of Education (DOE) or a school district may ask for a prescription or letter from the child’s doctor before conducting certain evaluations, such as an occupational or physical therapy evaluation.
Every student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be re-evaluated every three years, unless the parent agrees in writing that testing is not necessary. This is called a triennial evaluation. However, you do not need to wait to get new evaluations; a child can be referred for new evaluations at any time, and the DOE must complete testing unless the child has already been evaluated within the last year. New evaluations should be requested when the student is not making adequate progress, when the current program is not sufficiently supportive, or when the child has progressed to the point where a less restrictive program is needed.
To learn more about the various types of evaluation tests and purpose, please "Click" on a topic shown below to learn more. Information provided is for informational purposes only and describe in general context. Specific testing and detailed information is provided the professionals who are assigned the district or referring agency.
Assistive Technology (AT) Evaluation
Auditory Processing Evaluation
Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
Occupational Therapy (OT) Evaluation
Physical Therapy (PT) Evaluation