---
title: Questions to ask the school about early screening
description: In kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, the school might use early screening to identify struggling students. Here are questions to ask about early screening.
slug: checklist-questions-to-ask-the-school-about-early-screening
author: The Understood Team
reviewer: Virginia Gryta, MS
published: '2019-10-16T11:43:51.696Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/41jaApXPwxqF0s7zQsDofB/c7ae6c28c3519a7fca0c9fd96542b92c/G1185470194.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/checklist-questions-to-ask-the-school-about-early-screening
lang: en
---

# Questions to ask the school about early screening

If your child is struggling in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade, you can always [ask for an evaluation](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-steps-for-requesting-a-school-evaluation). But the school may also have other ways to identify struggling students. This is called early screening.

Early screening is a process many schools use that includes screening for all kids. One example is [response to intervention](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-response-to-intervention) (RTI). Here are some questions you can ask about early screening at your child’s school.

## School policy on early screening

- Does the school have an official policy or plan on early screening?
- Who’s in charge of the policy or plan?
- Are there any state laws on early screening for learning and thinking differences? (For example, some states have dyslexia screening laws.)

## Teacher training

- Which school team members are responsible for screening kids?
- What credentials and training do they have?
- What training do general education teachers get on learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and learning disabilities?
- Are teachers trained on how to identify kids who might have reading and math challenges?

## Early screening practices and response to intervention (RTI)

- Does the school use a specific program for identifying kids who need help?
- Does the school use response to intervention?
- Are all kids screened?
- How often are kids screened during the school year?
- What specific skills are looked at during screening?
- When will the school tell me if my child is going to be screened?
- How will the school explain what the screening results mean?

## Next steps after screening

- What happens if my child is identified as needing help?
- Who can I talk to if I need more information?

After early screening, the next step may be to get your child support at school. Some families have [concerns about getting help for their child](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/concerns-about-getting-child-help-at-school). But keep in mind that with the right support, your child can thrive in school and uncover strengths.

---

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