Self-Advocacy Tool: Request for Evaluation to Determine Eligibility for Special Education

Resource Type: Self-advocacy Tools
Focus Area: Ensuring Equal Access

This tool allows parents, guardians, Educational Decision Makers (EDMs), and surrogate parents to request that their child be evaluated by their school in all areas of suspected disability to determine their eligibility for an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is a legally binding document that provides individualized special education services to children with certain disabilities who need specially designed instruction or supports in order to learn. Please be as specific as possible when completing this tool and list any education concerns you may be having about your child in as much detail as possible. Here is a guide that you can use to complete the tool or help a parent or caregiver to complete the tool. Once you make this request in writing, the school has a reasonable amount of time – generally considered to be 10 days – to agree to evaluate your child and issue a Permission to Evaluate Form (PTE) or decline to evaluate by issuing you a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP). A school must take one of these two actions under law. Once the school agrees and you consent to the evaluation, it must be completed in 60 days.

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