Request and Track a Public-School Special Education Evaluation
Submit a documented evaluation request under IDEA, track the district's response and evaluation timeline, and reach a written eligibility decision — with an IEP in place where the child is found eligible.
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Who it's for
US parents or guardians who suspect a child in a public school may have a disability that requires special education — whether the school raised concerns first or not. It also fits families who asked informally and got no response and now need a formal, documented referral.
About this playbook
This guide walks you through requesting a full individual evaluation for your public-school child under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — from the written referral to the eligibility decision and, where warranted, the services plan. You will learn who to send the request to, what evidence to assemble, how to submit it so the timeline is provable, and how to track the deadlines that protect your child. It covers the evaluation process itself, the eligibility meeting, and your next moves if the school refuses to evaluate, finds your child ineligible, or you disagree with the outcome. It does not cover 504 plans in depth, private evaluations you pay for, or litigation strategy; it gives you the record-based path a parent can follow without a lawyer.
What you'll do, step by stepFree preview
Only a sample is open: 3 of 20 steps can be read in full. The rest unlock when you buy.
Phase 1: Know what you are asking for and who to ask
3 stepsPhase 2: Assemble the evidence
5 stepsPhase 3: Submit the written request
4 stepsPhase 4: Track the response and the evaluation
4 stepsPhase 5: Reach the eligibility decision and know your next move
4 steps
Details
What you need first
The child is enrolled in a US public school, public charter, or other district placement covered by IDEA. You can reach the school and district by phone or email. No medical diagnosis or lawyer is required to start; the district must evaluate on the basis of suspected disability.
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