Reviewed by Dr. Elizabeth Long, Ph.D. — Director of Special Education, 32 years in public schools.
If you suspect your child has a disability that is affecting their learning, you have the right to request a full and individual evaluation — you do not have to wait for the school to suggest it first. The key question is not "are they failing?" but "does my child may have a disability and, because of it, may need special education and related services?"
Passing grades do not settle the question. A child can earn C's while struggling far more than they should, or while masking real difficulty with enormous effort at home. Look at the whole picture: work samples, assessments, attendance, behavior, and how much support it takes to get through the day.
Under IDEA's Child Find requirement (34 CFR §300.111), schools must identify, locate, and evaluate children who may have disabilities and need special education — including children who are passing, home-schooled, or attending private school. That duty exists whether or not you ask, but a written request from you starts the clock and creates a record.
An evaluation must assess your child in all areas of suspected disability — not just the one that's most obvious. Depending on your concerns, that can include academics, speech and language, cognitive ability, fine and gross motor skills, social-emotional and behavioral functioning, hearing and vision, and adaptive skills. The evaluation must use a variety of tools (not a single test), be conducted by qualified people, and be given in your child's native language or mode of communication. If an area of concern is left out, you can ask — in writing — for it to be added.
Once you sign consent, your state's evaluation timeline begins — commonly 60 calendar days from consent, though the exact number and how days are counted vary by state. The school may propose to evaluate, or it may refuse. If it refuses, it must give you Prior Written Notice explaining why, which you can challenge.
Schools sometimes respond to an evaluation request by suggesting more time in a general-education intervention program (often called RTI or MTSS). Interventions can be valuable — but a school cannot use them to delay or deny an evaluation when a disability is suspected. You are entitled to request a formal evaluation at any point, even while interventions are ongoing. If you're told to "wait and see," you can restate your request in writing and ask for Prior Written Notice of any refusal.
The team meets to review results and decide eligibility, which generally turns on three questions: does your child have a disability, does it adversely affect their education, and do they need specially designed instruction as a result? If your child qualifies, the same data is used to build the IEP. Even a "not eligible" result gives you information you can use — and if you disagree with the school's evaluation, you can request an Independent Educational Evaluation, often at public expense. Either way, asking is the first step, and it's your right.
A ready-to-send letter that formally requests a special education evaluation and starts the timeline. Just add your details. Enter your email and it's yours.
Enter your state and the date you gave written consent. The free calculator shows the date the evaluation is due.
Find your state's deadline →Dr. Long's Assistant answers your specific questions in plain language — built from Dr. Long's expertise, plus state and federal law read at the source — never the open internet.
Get started →This is educational information, not legal advice. IDEA, Section 504, FERPA, and state rules may differ by situation.
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