Special Education Evaluation FAQs

Common questions parents have about the special education evaluation process include:

Q: How long does the evaluation process take?

A: The entire evaluation process must be completed within 60 school days from the date you give permission by signing the Permission to Evaluate form given to you by your school district. A copy of the Evaluation Report must be given to you and a summary of the report will be communicated to you.

Q: What will the Evaluation Report tell me?

A: The Evaluation Report (or ER) will include information about your child's skills, social behavior, learning problems, learning strengths, and educational needs. It will include a review of the testing and assessments performed, information from the parents, classroom observations, and the observations of teachers and related service personnel.

The ER determines if your child has one or more disabilities and if he or she needs special education. It may recommend specific programs and services based on his or her needs. The ER may also state that your child is not eligible and does not need special education services.

The ER will tell you what additions or changes are needed to help your child meet his or her education goals, and progress in the general education curriculum. (The general education curriculum is the skills and knowledge taught in your school district.) Your child's education goals are described in his or her Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Q: Does the evaluation process consider my child's English language skills or ethnic background?

A: Evaluations must take into account the student's English language skills and ethnic background, so that the testing and evaluation will be fair for students of differing races and cultures. Tests must be given in the student's native language or mode of communication, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so. To be reliable, evaluations must also take into account the student's disability. For example, a student with a severe visual impairment cannot be given a written test with small print.

The types of tests used in the evaluation process depend upon the educational challenges your child is experiencing. In most cases, he or she will receive several tests to help find strengths and needs. Someone other than your child's general classroom teacher may also observe your child in class. Information that you share about your child must also be included in the evaluation.