Once the assessment plan is signed, here’s what to expect:
1. You will be assigned a special education case manager
The case manager becomes the primary point of contact during the evaluation process. Their role includes:
- Completing academic testing
- Writing portions of the IEP
- Determining services, accommodations, and modifications
- Monitoring and implementing the IEP throughout the school year
The IEP team will determine areas of suspected disability based on:
- Record reviews
- Classroom performance
- Behavior incidents
- Parent input
It’s important to note that the school team ultimately decides which areas will be assessed.
2. Who else is involved in the initial evaluation?
The core evaluation team almost always includes:
- Case Manager – conducts academic testing
- School Psychologist – conducts cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional evaluations
- District Nurse – completes hearing and vision screenings
Depending on concerns, additional assessors may be involved:
- Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) – for speech, language, pragmatics
- Occupational Therapist (OT) – for fine motor, sensory, and handwriting
- Behavior Specialist – if behavior is a significant concern
- Additional service providers — based on the student’s needs
(I will be writing a follow-up post explaining the specific tests school psychologists use and how to interpret their results.)
3. Parent/Guardian Role in the Evaluation Process
The school psychologist will contact parents/guardians to:
- Gather health and developmental history
- Request parent input forms
- Discuss concerns and observations
- Clarify any behavioral, medical, or developmental factors
4. Assessment Will Begin During the School Day
An initial evaluation typically includes:
- Academic assessment
- Cognitive assessment
- Classroom observation
- Health and developmental history
- Hearing/vision screening
- Student, parent, and teacher input
- Review of records and academic concerns
Additional assessments may be included depending on the suspected disability:
- Attention and behavior rating scales
- Speech/language assessment
- Occupational therapy/fine motor assessment
- Adaptive skills assessment
- Autism-specific evaluation tools
When Will the School Pull My Child for Testing? (What Parents Should Expect)
Evaluators usually pull students during non-core academic periods, in this general order:
- PE
- Electives
- Science or History
It is less common to pull students from English or Math, but it can happen if scheduling is tight or if multiple testing sessions are required. Schools must complete the evaluation within the legal timeline, so some flexibility is necessary.
Occasionally, assessors may offer before-school or after-school testing. This depends on:
- Staff willingness
- Contracted work hours
- Availability of space
It is uncommon, but in past roles, I have assessed students as late as 4:30–6:30 PM to meet deadlines.
5. The School Must Hold the IEP Meeting Within 60 Days
Your IEP meeting will include:
- All assessment results
- Eligibility determination
- Strengths and areas of need
- Proposed services, supports, or accommodations
- A chance for you to ask questions and participate fully
This meeting is where the team discusses whether the student qualifies for special education, and if so, what services and supports will be provided.
⭐ What Comes Next? (Upcoming Articles)
To keep this guide focused and readable, I’ll be publishing several follow-up articles that dive deeper into the parts parents are most curious about:
🔹 Understanding School Psychologist Assessments:
A breakdown of the cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional tests we use — explained in plain language.
🔹 Eligibility Criteria for Every Disability Area in California:
What the team looks for, what the data must show, and how eligibility decisions are made.
🔹 How to Read and Understand Your Child’s Assessment Report:
A parent-friendly tour through standardized scores, percentiles, observations, and recommendations.
These articles will give you a complete understanding of the initial evaluation process from start to finish.