Each week, “Answer Key” aims to help families by responding to an important question about education and schools in Greater Houston. If you have a question for us to answer, please email us at education@houstonlanding.org or fill out the form at the end of this article.

This week’s question:

Where do I start if I want my child evaluated for special education services?

If your child is having trouble in school and you think they could have a condition making it harder for them, they might qualify for special education services. 

Under federal law, public schools have the responsibility to “identify, locate and evaluate” every child who may require special education services to learn. From start to finish, it can be a complicated, confusing process. 

Here’s a simple breakdown of what to do and where to turn if you think your child might benefit from special education services.

What has to happen for a student to get evaluated for services?

Before a student can be given any special education services, they must first be evaluated for a disability by their school district. This can happen in two ways:

• A parent requests that the school evaluate their child.
• The school notices a child may have a disability and asks the parent for permission to evaluate them.

Parents must make their request in writing. Disability Rights Texas, a nonprofit that advocates for people with disabilities, recommends modeling a letter after this sample.

What happens after a parent requests an evaluation?

Once the school receives a parent’s request, the clock starts ticking on a series of timelines. 

15 days: The amount of time a school has to ask for a parent’s written consent to an evaluation. At this point, parents have the right to ask for the name of the evaluator and an explanation of the tests that will be used in their child’s evaluation. Consenting to an evaluation is not the same as agreeing to special education services, which comes later. 

45 days: The evaluation must occur within 45 school days of receiving a parent’s consent.

30 days: The school has 30 calendar days after completing the evaluation to hold a meeting with the parent to review the results and, if necessary, develop a plan for special education services.

What will the evaluation look like?

Each evaluation is specific to a student, but schools may observe the student in different settings and situations to see how they perform, think and solve problems. Generally, the initial evaluation will assess a student’s physical health, vision, hearing, general intelligence, academic achievement, communication skills, and social and emotional status. 

The results help a team called the Admission, Review and Dismissal committee, commonly referred to as ARD, determine if the student has a disability. A parent or guardian making decisions about their child’s education is also considered a member of the ARD.

What happens after the evaluation?

Once the evaluation is complete, the district must schedule a meeting with the ARD, including the parent, to discuss the results within 30 days. 

If the ARD committee concludes a child should receive special education services, they will work to develop an Individualized Education Plan. Often referred to as an IEP, this plan outlines the student’s educational needs, annual academic and behavioral goals, and the accommodations and support they will receive in the classroom to meet their goals. 

The school will again ask for a parent’s written consent for the school to provide the services outlined in the IEP. The ARD committee reviews a student’s individualized education plan at least once a year. Parents can ask for a review more frequently. 

A student also must be reevaluated every three years to determine if their special education services are still meeting their educational needs. A parent or teacher can also request a child be reevaluated more often.

What if I’m not happy with the evaluation results?

Parents have the right to request an “independent educational evaluation,” which is essentially a second opinion. Schools are required to provide one free to parents each year. It’s recommended to make this request to a principal or special education director in writing.

The school will then provide the parent a list of evaluators to choose from. Parents can also recommend an evaluator.

Where should I go with questions or concerns?

If a parent has concerns about how their child’s special education services are being administered, they should contact the campus to schedule an ARD meeting about it. 

If this doesn’t address the concern, parents should contact their school district’s special education department or the Texas Education Agency’s SPEDTex. 

Miranda Dunlap covers Houston’s community colleges in partnership with Open Campus. Despite roughly half of Houston’s higher-education students attending community colleges, there hasn’t been much news covering these systems or students — until now. Her reporting holds institutions accountable, highlights barriers faced by students and helps them navigate their opportunities. Reach Miranda at miranda@houstonlanding.org or on Twitter and Instagram.

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