Monthly Archives: July 2018

Under the federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public schools are required to find and evaluate the needs of children with suspected learning disabilities (LD). Parents have the legal right to request such testing. Students with LD can qualify for additional educational support or accommodations.

Simply mentioning your concerns to your child’s teacher may be insufficient to secure testing for LD. Evaluations are expensive. Providing years of services to children with disabilities is even more so. To ensure the school system tests your child, your best bet is to put your request for an evaluation in writing.

Send a letter to your child’s teacher and copy the principal and the school district’s Director of Special Education. In your letter outline your specific concerns and why you believe there may be a learning disability. Mention any developmental delays and any family history of LD. Explicitly say you’d like your child to be evaluated and that you give your permission for testing. Finally, be sure to ask if there are any official forms you need to complete to initiate the evaluation.

You may want to mail your letter by certified mail with return receipt requested. That way you have date-verified proof that you’ve asked the school to test your child. If you haven’t heard back from the school after five business days, send an email to follow up. (It is good practice to have a written record of all communications with the school regarding LD.)

Early intervention is very important for supporting students with LD, so don’t delay in requesting an evaluation. If you suspect your child has a learning disability, put your request in writing today.