Parents can request an educational assessment at a public or charter school if they have concerns about their child's learning or development. This evaluation identifies challenges that may impact school performance and determines eligibility for special education services.  

Note:  If your child is homeschooled or attending a private school, CLICK HERE

??  How to Request an Educational Evaluation  ?? 

1. Write an email to one of the following people: 

   - School Psychologist, Principal or Special Education Teacher for your child’s grade level

2. CC (Carbon Copy) to:

  - Principal (if email is address to someone else)

- Special Education Teacher for your child’s grade level (if email is addressed to someone else)

   - General Education Teacher for your child’s grade level

   - Additional relevant staff (e.g., Occupational Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist) if you believe their services might be necessary.

3. Email Attachment: 

   - Attach the completed Request for Evaluation for Special Education Services Letter as a PDF.

   - Body of Email: 

Hello Ms. Berry,

Please see the attached letter for my son Casa Nova.

Sincerely,

Parent’s Name

4. Email Subject Line: 

   - Request for Evaluation for Special Education Services

Sample Letter 1

Date

Parent Name  

Street Address  

City, State, Zip Code  

Email

Name of Principal, School Psychologist, or Special Education Teacher (Address to one)  

School Name  

Street Address  

City, State, Zip Code

Subject: Request for Educational Evaluations

Dear [Principal/Special Education Teacher/School Psychologist],

I am writing to formally request an evaluation for my child, [STUDENT NAME], who is [AGE] years old and is currently in [Grade Level] at [SCHOOL NAME]. I believe that a comprehensive educational assessment is essential to better understand and address [STUDENT NAME]'s educational needs and to determine if [HE/SHE] requires special education services to effectively benefit from and access learning at school.

I have observed that [STUDENT NAME] is encountering challenges in the following areas, which may be due to an underlying educational disability: 

[provide examples, below are some suggestions for parents]

• Organization (ex: Difficulty staying organized, Frequently loses or misplaces items, Trouble following multi-step directions, Inconsistent time management)

• Learning in Math (ex: Difficulty understanding basic math concepts, Struggles with problem-solving, Trouble remembering math facts, Poor performance on tests despite effort)

• Learning in Reading (ex: Difficulty decoding words, Struggles with reading comprehension, Slow reading speed, Reads better at lower grade level, Limited vocabulary)

• Learning in Writing (ex: Illegible handwriting, Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper, Frequent spelling and grammar mistakes, Trouble starting or completing written assignments)

• Behavior (ex: Displays defiance or non-compliance, Outbursts of anger or frustration, Difficulty following rules, Shows signs of anxious or depressed behavior)

• Social Skills (ex: Difficulty making or keeping friends, Trouble reading social cues, Prefers to play alone, Lacks empathy or understanding of others' feelings)

• Focusing (ex: Easily distracted, Struggles to complete tasks, Trouble paying attention in class, Appears to be daydreaming often)

• Impulsivity (ex: Acts without thinking, Interrupts others frequently, Difficulty waiting for their turn,  Makes hasty decisions)

• Stemming or Repetitive Behavior (ex: movements or noises) Repetitive movements such as arm flapping, rocking, or spinning, Makes repetitive noises like humming or tapping, Engages in rituals or routines, shows fixation on a specific object or topic)

• Sensitive to Loud Noises (ex: Covers ears or shows distress in noisy environments, Refuses to participate in loud activities, Wears noise-canceling headphones, Becomes agitated or anxious when it’s noisy)

• Understanding What is Asked of Them (ex: Frequently asks for instructions to be repeated, Misinterprets assignments or tasks, Shows confusion about instructions, Needs one-on-one assistance to understand tasks)

• Struggles to Retrieve Words to Express Themselves (ex: Pauses or uses filler words frequently, Uses vague language instead of specific terms, Struggles to find the right word during conversation, Provides brief and unclear responses)

• Struggles to Hear or See Things (ex: Frequently squints or moves closer to see, Does not respond to verbal cues, Turns head or strains to hear in conversations, Complains of difficulty seeing the board or hearing instructions)

We have attempted to support [STUDENT NAME] through various measures, including (briefly describe any interventions or support strategies implemented by you or the school).

I request the following formal and comprehensive evaluations for my child:

• Visual and Auditory

• Intelligence / Cognition

• Academic Skills and Achievement

• Social Emotional Testing

• Occupational Therapy : to include Sensory and Fine Motor Skills assessment 

• Speech & Language: to include Communication and Pragmatics

• An assessment to determine if my child meets the educational criteria for Autism

• An assessment to determine if my child meets the educational criteria for ADHD

• Transition Assessments (if they are 16 years old or will turn 16 this school year, if not delete this line)

By digitally signing this letter, I hereby consent to SCHOOL NAME to conduct the comprehensive evaluations described above. I understand that the district has 60 days from the date I provide informed written consent to complete the evaluations and conduct a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team meeting to determine eligibility.

Please let me know the next steps and any additional information or forms needed to proceed with this request within 48 hours. If you have any questions I can be reached by email at EMAIL ADDRESS. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Parent's Name]

CC: [Principal's Name] (If addressed to another person), [Special Education Teacher's Name], [OT Therapist's Name], [Speech Therapist's Name], [Class Teacher's Name]

Template Created by:

Le Ann Fuller - Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate

Fuller Education Advocacy, LLC

Special Education Advocacy & Consulting

Sample Letter 2

Date

Parent Name  

Street Address  

City, State, Zip Code  

Email

Name of Principal, School Psychologist, or Special Education Teacher (Address to one)  

School Name  

Street Address  

City, State, Zip Code

Subject: Request for Educational Evaluations

Dear [Principal/Special Education Teacher/School Psychologist],

I am writing to formally request an evaluation for my child, [STUDENT NAME], who is [AGE] years old and is currently in [Grade Level] at [SCHOOL NAME]. I believe that a comprehensive educational assessment is essential to better understand and address [STUDENT NAME]'s educational needs and to determine if [HE/SHE] requires special education services to effectively benefit from and access learning at school.

I have observed several areas where [STUDENT’S NAME] is experiencing difficulties that are affecting [his/her] learning. 

To ensure a thorough understanding of [STUDENT'S NAME]'s educational needs, I am requesting the following evaluations:

1. Intelligence / Cognition

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] struggles to keep up with the curriculum and has shown signs of difficulty in understanding complex concepts.

- Purpose: To determine my child's functioning level in terms of intelligence and problem-solving abilities through formal assessments.

2. Visual and Auditory Skills

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] often misses visual or auditory cues in the classroom, which affects learning.

- Purpose: To assess visual-motor coordination and auditory processing skills.

3.  Academic Skills and Achievement

Observation: Despite efforts, [STUDENT’S NAME] is not achieving at grade-level expectations in core subjects.

- Purpose: To gauge my child's academic skills through standardized achievement tests.

4. Social/Emotional Testing

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] shows signs of emotional distress or social difficulties hindering participation in class activities.

- Purpose: To assess my child's social/emotional development and functional behavior.

5. Occupational Therapy- To include but not limited to: Visual-Motor Coordination / Sensory and Fine Motor Skills

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] has trouble with handwriting and completing tasks that involve fine motor skills.

- Purpose: To determine how well my child can function in physical tasks within the school setting and may include a focus on sensory processing.

6. Speech & Language: Receptive, Expressive & Pragmatic Language

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] has difficulty expressing themselves clearly and understanding others.

- Purpose: To evaluate my child's language proficiency and functional communication skills including articulation, voice, and fluency.

 7. Adaptive Behavior

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] struggles significantly with routines and daily classroom expectations.

- Purpose: To assess how independently my child can function and meet standards of personal and social responsibility both in and out of school.

8. Observation of Classroom Behavior by Qualified Providers

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME]'s interaction with peers and teachers fluctuates significantly during structured and unstructured times.

- Purpose: Observations across various school environments, including the classroom, PE, music, technology, recess, and lunch.

9. Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation in an Educational Context

Observation: Notable difficulties in social communication and repetitive behaviors possibly indicative of Autism.

- Purpose: To determine if [STUDENT’S NAME] meets the criteria for Autism in an educational context.

10. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in an Educational Context

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] exhibits behaviors including inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and/or impulsiveness that interfere with learning and daily functioning.

- Purpose: To assess whether [STUDENT’S NAME] meets the criteria for ADHD through behavior rating scales, observational data, and teacher/parent reports.

11. Related Services Evaluation

Observation: Potential need for additional services to better support [STUDENT'S NAME] in the educational environment.

- Purpose: Please include assessments for: A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) / Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

12. Transition Assessment

Observation: [STUDENT’S NAME] is already 16 or will be turning 16, and needs evaluation to plan for future educational and vocational opportunities.

- Purpose: To assess strengths, preferences, and interests related to post-secondary goals.

By digitally signing this letter, I hereby consent to SCHOOL NAME to conduct the comprehensive evaluations described above. I understand that the district has 60 days from the date I provide informed written consent to complete the evaluations and conduct a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team meeting to determine eligibility.

Please let me know the next steps and any additional information or forms needed to proceed with this request within 48 hours. If you have any questions I can be reached by email at EMAIL ADDRESS. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[PARENT’S NAME]

CC: Principal, OT Therapist, Speech Therapist, Class Teacher(s), Special Education Teacher (for grade level), [Any other person invited to the meeting]

Template Created by:

Le Ann Fuller - Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate

Fuller Education Advocacy, LLC

Special Education Advocacy & Consulting