If you think your child might qualify for special education services, the first step is getting them evaluated. Many parents wait, hoping the school will bring it up first. You don't have to wait. Under federal law, you have the right to request this evaluation yourself, at any time, and the school must respond.

Here's what the process looks like from your first written request to the moment you receive the results.

Your Right to Request an Evaluation

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) gives parents the right to request a free and full evaluation to see whether their child qualifies for special education services. The school cannot charge you for this evaluation, and you do not need a referral from a doctor or therapist to ask for one.

This right is yours whether your child is a toddler or a teenager, already in school or not yet enrolled. It covers every child from birth through age 21.

How to Submit a Formal Written Request

Requests must be in writing. A verbal request at a teacher conference or parent-teacher meeting does not start the clock. Only a written request triggers the school's legal obligation to respond within a specific timeframe.

Your letter doesn't need to be formal or complicated. It should include:

• Your child's full name, date of birth, and grade
• A brief description of the concerns (delayed reading, trouble following directions, difficulty with social situations, physical limitations, etc.)
• A clear statement that you are requesting a full evaluation for special education eligibility
• Your name, contact information, and the date

Send it to the special education director at your district, with a copy to your child's school principal. Send it via certified mail or email with a read receipt so you have a record of when it was received.

What the School Must Do Next

Once the school receives your written request, IDEA requires them to respond within 60 days (some states have shorter windows, so check your state's specific timeline).

During that period, the school must notify you in writing that they received your request, then ask for your written consent before any testing begins. Once you give consent, they complete the evaluation and schedule a meeting to go through the results with you.

If the school decides not to evaluate your child, they must notify you in writing and explain why. That notice must also tell you how to challenge their decision.

What the Evaluation Covers

A full special education evaluation is not a single test, and it's not a verdict. It's a comprehensive look at your child across multiple areas, designed to build a complete picture of how they learn, where they struggle, and where they shine. Depending on your child's suspected needs, it may include:

• Academic achievement testing (reading, math, written language)
• Cognitive or intellectual functioning
• Speech and language skills
• Social, emotional, and behavioral assessment
• Physical or occupational therapy screening
• Classroom observations
• Health and medical history review

The school must assess in every area related to the suspected disability. This is about protecting the full picture of your child, not just checking boxes. If you believe a particular area was left out, you have the right to ask why and to request it be included.

What to Do If the School Says No

Schools do sometimes deny evaluation requests. If that happens to you, it can feel like a door closing, but it isn't. The denial must come in writing with a specific explanation, and you have real options for what to do next.

Request a meeting. Ask for a meeting with the special education director to understand their reasoning. Sometimes a denial reflects a misunderstanding of what you're asking for or the scope of the concern.

Request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). If your child was evaluated and you disagree with the results, you can request an IEE at public expense. The school must either fund the independent evaluation or file for a due process hearing to defend their original evaluation.

File a state complaint. Every state has a process for filing a complaint when a school district violates IDEA requirements. The state education agency must investigate and respond.

Request mediation or due process. These are formal dispute resolution processes available under IDEA when you and the school cannot reach an agreement.

After the Evaluation

When the evaluation is complete, you'll sit down with the team to go through the results together. That conversation will determine whether your child qualifies for special education services, and you are part of that conversation, not just an audience for it.

If your child qualifies, the team will begin developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This is the document that outlines your child's goals, the services they'll receive, and how progress will be measured.

If the evaluation finds your child doesn't qualify, the school must still give you a written explanation of why, along with information about your rights to challenge that determination.

You are a full member of the evaluation team. You can ask questions, request that specific areas be re-tested, and disagree with conclusions. The school's evaluation is not the final word unless you accept it as such.