It’s that time of year again, when youngsters prepare to head back to school. For families, it’s a busy season of supply-gathering, back-to-school haircuts, and anticipation of schedule or teacher announcements. It may evoke feelings of dread or excitement for kids and parents- or a mix of both!

As the dust settles on the new year, sometimes concerns arise. These issues may be related to a child’s speech, academic, or behavioral functioning. Once a concern arises, parents have several possible steps to take. One simple course of action is to find books relating to the area of concern with the goal of implementing new strategies at home, such as Parenting Bright Kids Who Struggle in School by Dewey Rosetti.. Another option is to talk with the school regarding Response-to-Intervention (RtI) or Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) opportunities that may be available in the classroom. Additionally, outside support services are possibilities, where families can pay for private speech therapy, counseling, or academic tutoring.

When to Request an Evaluation

If concerns persist despite intervention, an evaluation may become necessary. Evaluations are data-gathering processes that yield recommendations for action. Schools have evaluation personnel – like diagnosticians or school psychologists – who can conduct evaluations at no additional cost during the educational day. Requesting an evaluation does not always warrant a guarantee of one from the school; however, schools are required to respond to the request within 15 school days, especially if the request is in writing.

School-Based Evaluations

School-based evaluations take time. From the date informed consent is formally obtained, school staff in Texas have 45 school days to conduct the evaluation. From there, the school then has 30 calendar days to hold a meeting to discuss the results. Parents should receive the written report before the meeting to help prepare for the conversation. In a school, evaluations yield a recommendation regarding support from an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). If the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee agrees specially-designed instruction is necessary for a student to access the curriculum, an IEP will be developed in that meeting. The entire process, from requesting an evaluation to an in-effect IEP can take about four months and possibly longer, depending on the time of year!

Private evaluations also take time. Psychological evaluations are conducted by Licensed Psychologists (or Licensed Psychological Associates in Texas). Some providers have a long line of requests, and other providers have more immediate availability. A private evaluation may be completed more thoroughly than a school evaluation and may also be done in a speedier timeframe. Once a private evaluation is completed, a parent may choose to bring the report to school personnel for consideration. The results may recommend creating a 504 plan with accommodations at school for a disability, or the results may recommend that the school consider accepting some of the private evaluation to lead to an IEP.

Private Evaluations

In looking for a private evaluation, consider providers that collect data from a variety of sources (including the school setting!), spend considerable time with the child in both testing and informal situations, and have the ability to assess for a variety of disabilities, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or dysgraphia. If this school year brings concerns for your child, the professionals at PACT are available to help. Please contact our office if you are interested in having a problem-solving consultation session or to discuss evaluation options.