A child may be referred for the first evaluation in several ways:

You may ask your school to evaluate your child for special education at any time. This can be done by sending a letter to the principal of your child’s school or by asking a school professional employee. You will find a sample letter that you can use below. Keep a copy of all your correspondence.

A “Permission to Evaluate-Evaluation Request” form will be sent to you within 10 calendar days after the receipt of your request.

The school may also contact you and must ask permission to have your child evaluated using a “Permission to Evaluate-Consent” form. You must consent in writing to your child’s evaluation. School officials cannot proceed without your written permission. If permission is not received and the school continues to find that an evaluation is necessary, they may ask for a due process hearing:

Sample Letter for Requesting Evaluation

The following sample letter may give parents and/or guardians ideas about how to compose a letter requesting an evaluation. Remember to always keep the welfare of your child in clear focus whenever you communicate with school district officials.

Your address

Phone Numbers:
Home: ( )
Cell: ( )
Work: ( )

Date

Principal’s name
School name
School address

Dear principal’s name:

I am the parent or guardian (choose the correct term) of your child’s full name whose date of birth is month/day/year. Your child’s first name is in the number grade in room number. My child is not doing well in school, and I am requesting that an evaluation be carried out to determine what the problems are and how they can be addressed. I understand that I am a member of my child’s evaluation team and I wish to give input to the team. Please let me know how I can participate in this process.

I look forward to the school district providing me with a notice of my parental rights and a “Consent to Evaluate” form for me to sign. I understand that the evaluation must be completed and a report issued within 60 calendar days after the school district receives my signed “Consent to Evaluate” form.

Please contact me if you require any further information.

Thank you.

Sincerely,


Your name

Source: Pennsylvania Parent Guide to Special Education for School Age Children - July 2008 Chapter 14 Regulations. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education; Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network.

http://parent.pattan.net/files/parent/SchAgeParentGuide.pdf