Psychoeducational Evaluations for Learning Disabilities

School Evaluations vs Private Evaluations

School Evaluations

  • The purpose of school evaluations is to determine if the student qualifies for special education services.

  • School psychologists use cognitive and academic tests to qualify students under categories such as reading, writing, and math. The qualifications do not include terms such as dyslexia or dysgraphia, but rather academic areas.

  • If the student qualifies, the parent receives an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is drafted. The school district recommends academic goals and services they can provide. The parents must review the IEP and, if they agree, sign it before it is finalized. Parents can request changes to the goals and services. The IEP becomes a legal contract, and the school district assesses its progress toward the academic goals yearly.

  • The purpose of school evaluations is not to identify the specific type of neurodivergence a student has or any interventions that parents can implement at home.

  • School evaluations are free. Students in private schools are entitled to evaluations from their local school district.

Private Evaluations

  • The purpose of private evaluations is to assess for a specific learning disability, identify specific processing problems as well as areas of strength, and develop a specific treatment plan that includes school accommodations, private interventions, and individualized learning strategies.

  • Psychologists use cognitive and academic tests to determine if a student meets criteria for Learning Disorder and to identify the specific type of neurodivergence. Private evaluations do assess for dyslexia and dysgraphia as well as general academic areas.

  • If the student attends a public school, receives a diagnosis from the private evaluation, and school accommodations are recommended, parents then request an evaluation from the school district. The district reviews the private evaluation report and decides if additional testing is necessary. If the results meet their standards, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is drafted. Most private schools accept the results of a private evaluation and try their best to accommodate the student.

  • Private evaluations are expensive. However, most insurance providers cover a significant portion of the cost of comprehensive evaluations.