Help!, my child is being tested for special education

When I talked with parents about special education for their children, they asked questions like, “What is special education?” “How does it help my child?” “Will my child have a different teacher?” and many more.

Having a child with a disability can be overwhelming and confusing. A music teacher told me the process was confusing for her when she started getting help for her child and she was used to receiving copies of accommodations for over 100 students every year. 

When I was in the classroom as a special education teacher and later in my career as the assistant principal running the IEP meetings, I would look around the table and see no less than four or five educators compared to one or two parents. The meeting had an agenda and all the educators knew their part and what to say, but as I listened to the testing information being shared or the use of acronyms being thrown out like common language I would look over at the parent(s). Several times I would slow the meeting down and either clarify what was being said or explain what a BIP (behavior improvement plan) was or that crystallized knowledge is simply what we learn from our experiences living in the world.

In the beginning….

It is quite common for parents to receive calls from their child’s school letting them know what is going on at the school. When the call is from their teacher saying I’ve noticed your child struggles with reading, focusing, or pronouncing the “s” sound, it can be confusing and overwhelming. I know you want to help but suddenly a thousand questions are rushing through your mind.  You did nothing wrong. You love your child and you want the very best for them. But sometimes your child needs a little extra help. Both my husband and I had help in school with speech to learn the correct way to say the /r/ and /s/sounds. These are two of the most common sounds kids need help with and with early intervention, they can complete speech services before they leave elementary school.

What happens next?

So, you have talked with the teacher, and she/he has shared her/his concerns. What comes next? A diagnostician, someone trained in administering and interpreting tests, will call you to set up an appointment and obtain informed consent (permission) to test your child.

Informed consent means you should understand why your child is being tested, what test will most likely be given, what disability is suspected, how long the testing will take when the results will be given to you, and what if you change your mind.  

Once you sign consent, the diagnostician will pull your child for one one-on-one testing, most likely over several days and for small periods depending on the age of your child and their attention span.

If your child is being evaluated for Autism, ADHD, or emotional/behavioral concerns, a psychologist will be involved. The psychologist will administer some tests to your child and send you rating scales to fill out. These must be returned so accurate eligibility can be determined.  

After the testing is complete.

Once the testing is completed within the required timeline an IEP (individual education plan) meeting will be scheduled and held where the testing information will be shared. If your child meets one of the 13 eligibility criteria,  proposed goals to help your child will be discussed, as well as other needed services.  You may hear from the teachers how your child is doing in their classroom, accommodations and a schedule of services will also be discussed. If any additional services are being suggested they will be shared at this time.  

While the diagnostician and special education teachers will share their information, you, as the parent, have the right to agree, disagree, or share your input on what you want for your child’s education. Ideally, this should be a collaborative process between the parent(s) and the school to help your child.

Hearing your child needs more help in school can be scary. However, having a good relationship with your school and trusting them can benefit you and your child. If you discover you don’t trust your school, they are not taking the time to answer your questions, or you feel you are not being heard, it may be time to bring in an advocate such as myself to assist you.