Help me write my testing request letter.

[Renee in FL]

My 8yo has (obvious to everyone) LDs. I started trying to get him tested in NC, but the school was very slow to respond. They wanted interventions, a portfolio, etc. He has a diagnosed language disability from his former SLP because he was below the 5th percentile in almost all language areas.

I am coming at this from several angles - basic testing through the school, medical testing for physical issues, another SLP evaluation, etc. Once we get all that done, I hope to get more testing done through a university a couple of hours away.

So, do I write a letter asking for testing and list his symptoms? Do I mention the interventions that have already been tried? Do I include a copy of his SLP report?

[ktmo]

Are you working through a local public school? If so, I would write a letter stating that you are REFERRING him for an educational screening. I would also state that I would want educational, psychological (and speech/language if you want them to do that) testing done. You could also state that you are having concerns and suspect a learning disability, but I don't think it is necessary. I don't think you need too much info in the letter, that will come out at the meetings.

By making a referral, you are starting the time line. They will have so many days to hold a screening meeting. You may be asked to complete an Educational History and Parent Questionnaire. You may also be asked to complete a Teacher Report and/or Observation, as those are typically included in the screening process. This is where you would really need to address your concerns: reading ability, math skills, writing skills, etc. I would also present any additional assessments that have been done in the past.

At the screening meeting the team will decide if further testing is necessary. Sometimes it is recommended, sometimes not. If the team is learning toward not testing, just demand it and keep on them until they agree. If a parent is adamant about testing, we usually test.

[Momto2Ns]

For letters to the public schools, I always refer to Wrights Law, http://www.wrightslaw.com/ . They have many, many sample letters in the book From Emotions to Advocacy. You might see if your local library has it or if you can find a sample on their website for what you need. Back when we used the ps wrights law helped us immensely!

[newbie]

For letters to the public schools, I always refer to Wrights Law, http://www.wrightslaw.com/ . They have many, many sample letters in the book From Emotions to Advocacy. You might see if your local library has it or if you can find a sample on their website for what you need. Back when we used the ps wrights law helped us immensely!
:iagree:Just do a request for complete evals. Dont give too much info.

Keep paper trail and write down dates, in case out of compliance.

[Renee in FL]

:iagree:Just do a request for complete evals. Dont give too much info.

Keep paper trail and write down dates, in case out of compliance.

That is what I did in NC. After receiving the letter, the special ed teacher called me back and asked for more detail. Then she told me that I had to plan 3 interventions for each concern and then document that I tried the intervention and what the result was. If any of the interventions worked, then he would not be tested. I was trying to consolidate that as I have already tried numerous interventions.

Honestly, if I had the money I would just have him tested privately. I don't want to go through the school at all. It is a lot of work for little return it seems (since he isn't eligible for services since he is homeschooled.)

So, how do you do what they want? I send a letter, they tell me that I have to document his disabilities, then they have to approve them?

[newbie]

Thats strange. If this is a new state, just start from scratch. A great book to live by is Wrightslaw, they also have a new IEP book.

Do you already have an IEP in place? Or are you starting new w/a new state. Every state and every district is different.

If you do a little research on tests you would like, that helps, b/c they cant turn you down if you are specific. Sometimes what I like to do is work backwards.

Go to the school dist site and pull up their special ed site. Sometimes they will have IEP forms they use for meetings and on it will be certain evals, research them to get a sense of what they are and request them specifically.

They may also have request letters on file. Mind you districts do not like to test, it costs money and they will give you every reason they can to not test a child. If you dont like the answer, send the letter on up the chain. If I am having issues I deal direct w/the top, also question authority if they ask for interventions you have done, ask where in the Special Ed lawsdoes it state that is required for evals. Ask for their documentation?

[Renee in FL]

Thats strange. If this is a new state, just start from scratch. A great book to live by is Wrightslaw, they also have a new IEP book.

Do you already have an IEP in place? Or are you starting new w/a new state. Every state and every district is different.

If you do a little research on tests you would like, that helps, b/c they cant turn you down if you are specific. Sometimes what I like to do is work backwards.

Go to the school dist site and pull up their special ed site. Sometimes they will have IEP forms they use for meetings and on it will be certain evals, research them to get a sense of what they are and request them specifically.

They may also have request letters on file. Mind you districts do not like to test, it costs money and they will give you every reason they can to not test a child. If you dont like the answer, send the letter on up the chain. If I am having issues I deal direct w/the top, also question authority if they ask for interventions you have done, ask where in the Special Ed lawsdoes it state that is required for evals. Ask for their documentation?

He's never had an IEP - we found out we were moving here to FL, so we dropped the request in NC.

I did find some helpful information on the county website, thanks!

[Laurie4b]

That is what I did in NC. After receiving the letter, the special ed teacher called me back and asked for more detail. Then she told me that I had to plan 3 interventions for each concern and then document that I tried the intervention and what the result was. If any of the interventions worked, then he would not be tested. I was trying to consolidate that as I have already tried numerous interventions.

Honestly, if I had the money I would just have him tested privately. I don't want to go through the school at all. It is a lot of work for little return it seems (since he isn't eligible for services since he is homeschooled.)

So, how do you do what they want? I send a letter, they tell me that I have to document his disabilities, then they have to approve them?

That's what a teacher would have to do; that is not what a parent has to do. You were requesting this as the parent. The special ed teacher was mixed up.

[ktmo]

That's what a teacher would have to do; that is not what a parent has to do. You were requesting this as the parent. The special ed teacher was mixed up.

Yes! If you as a parent are requesting a referral, they have to start the process.

[Renee in FL]

That's what a teacher would have to do; that is not what a parent has to do. You were requesting this as the parent. The special ed teacher was mixed up.

She said I was his teacher so I had to do this. I even asked on the board here and everyone said it was normal!

[Renee in FL]

Yes! If you as a parent are requesting a referral, they have to start the process.

They did start the process, but as his teacher I had to do all of this stuff. If he had been in school, I would have requested it and the teacher would have had to do all this work. That's how it was explained to me.