Two ways to start an evaluation

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• Who can ask for an evaluation?

  Kids don’t get an IEP all of a sudden. The school needs to do an evaluation and decide if your child qualifies for special education. Public schools have a whole process for evaluating kids using a team of professionals. And it’s free for families.

  The process can start in one of two ways:

  • You can ask the school. This is called requesting an evaluation. You can do it any time you’re worried about how your child is doing in school.

  • The school can ask you. This is called a “referral.” It means the school is recommending an evaluation for your child.

  Either way, the school needs your written OK before it can evaluate your child. So whoever asks first, you’re part of the decision.

• The school can ask you (in a "referral")

  A “referral” may sound like something related to a doctor’s office, but it’s not. It’s the school’s way of saying, “We think an evaluation could help us understand how to support your child.”

  If the school refers your child:

  • You’ll get a form asking for your consent or permission.

  • You can ask questions about the evaluation plan. The school can’t start until you sign the form.

  • Once you sign, the school has a set number of days to finish the evaluation. The exact number depends on your state.

  Keep in mind that a referral isn’t a judgment on you or your child. It’s a chance to get answers and find the right support.

• What to know about RTI and MTSS

  If your child is struggling in school, you may have gotten letters from the school about RTI or MTSS. Here’s what these terms mean and how they’re related to evaluations:

  • Response to intervention (RTI) tracks how general education students respond to instructional interventions. Schools use this kind of targeted teaching as an early step to help determine if a child needs special education.

  • Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is similar to RTI. Both MTSS and RTI provide increasing levels of support to students who are struggling. (At some schools, RTI is the process of identifying students’ needs and MTSS is the framework for supporting those needs.)

  Key things to know:

  • Interventions can help a child catch up, but they are not a replacement for special education.

  • The school can’t deny your request or delay an evaluation just because your child is getting extra help through RTI or MTSS.

  • You have the right to ask for an evaluation at any time.