A multidisciplinary evaluation may be recommended for your child if he or she has significant difficulty accessing appropriate educational services due to a possible disability. The regular classroom teacher or school counselor will contact you to discuss the evaluation recommendation.  You will be asked to complete some referral paperwork and sign a Consent for Evaluation form.  The school nurse will conduct a vision and hearing screening.  A speech-language screening may also be completed if the school team suspects possible speech or language impairments.  A school psychometrist, psychologist, speech-language pathologist, or other certified school personnel may administer several different standardized tests or inventories, depending on the suspected disability of your child.

The school will contact you to schedule a meeting.  During this meeting, school personnel will discuss the test results and describe your child's academic strengths and educational needs.  Your input is very important during this meeting.  As a member of the team, you will have an opportunity to discuss your concerns about your child's academic difficulties.  Don't be afraid to ask questions about the evaluations or test results.  Together, you and the school staff will consider all the options for your child and will determine if special education and related services are needed.

If you and the school team decide that special education and related services are needed for  your child, then an Individualized Education Program, also known as an IEP, will be developed.  An IEP is a written plan for the special education and related services of a student with a disability.  It describes your child's present levels of performance, strengths and weaknesses, and what you and the school will do to address his or her educational needs.  This plan will include specific annual goals and short term objectives that the team expects your child to be able to achieve.  It also indicates the amount of service that your child will receive.  Any related services needed for your child, such as speech-language therapy, will also be indicated on the IEP.  This IEP must be reviewed at least once a year.