Guides

How to request an evaluation

If you suspect your child may need special education or disability-related school supports, a written evaluation request is often the clearest first step. Rules and timelines differ by state. Use this as a general map, then confirm details with your state education agency and district.

The problem this guide solves

Parents sometimes wait for the school to "notice," or make only a hallway request that never becomes a formal process. A dated written request creates a clear record and starts the school's duty to respond under applicable law.

What "evaluation" can mean

Under IDEA, a full individual evaluation helps decide whether a child is a child with a disability who needs special education and related services. Child Find requires states and districts to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may need those services. See Child Find / early childhood.

Under Section 504, schools also evaluate students who may need accommodations or services for equal access. Ask which path (or both) the school is using. See IEP vs 504.

Multi-tiered supports such as RTI or MTSS can happen alongside a referral. They should not be used as an automatic reason to refuse an evaluation when a disability is suspected. Confirm your state's current guidance.

General steps (national)

Gather examples. Note academic, behavioral, health, or communication concerns with dates and samples when you have them.
Put the request in writing. Address it to the principal, special education coordinator, or the contact your district names for referrals. Keep a copy. Email with a read receipt or a dated letter both create a paper trail.
Say what you are asking for. Example: a full individual evaluation under IDEA to determine eligibility for special education and related services. If you also want a Section 504 evaluation, say that clearly.
Ask for next steps in writing. Request the consent forms, procedural safeguards, and the school's proposed evaluation plan (what areas will be assessed).
Give or refuse consent thoughtfully. Initial evaluation generally requires parent consent under IDEA. Read what you are signing.
Follow up on timelines. Federal IDEA rules set outer frameworks, and states often add details. Do not rely on informal verbal dates. Ask for the written timeline that applies in your state.

What to include in a short request letter

Student name, school, grade, and date.
A clear statement that you are requesting an evaluation under IDEA (and/or Section 504).
Brief reasons and examples (not a medical essay).
A request for procedural safeguards and contact information for the person handling the referral.
Your preferred contact method and a request for written response.

You do not need perfect legal language. Clarity and a date matter more.

Find your state rules

Your state education agency publishes special education guidance, timelines, and parent rights materials. Your local district implements them. Parent Training and Information Centers help families navigate both.

Texas readers: use the deeper Texas page for FIIE and state-specific notes: Texas evaluations / FIIE overview.

Official sources