Evaluation

Full Individual & Initial Evaluation (FIE)

All children with disabilities in Texas, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services, must be identified, located, and evaluated.  This is called “Child Find”. 

A Full Individual and Initial Evaluation (FIE) is a collection of information about your child’s special learning needs, strengths, interests and challenges.  It will tell you and the school if your child has a disability.  It will also tell you about the special services your child may need to do better in school.

The evaluation will determine if your child:

• Has a disability, and
• As a result of the disability, your child needs specially designed instruction (related or special education services) to benefit from education.

There is a formal process that you must follow regarding evaluations. 

Before Evaluation:

• Response to Intervention (RtI)
• Screening
• How to Get Services/Write Letter (Referral)
• Review of Existing Evaluation Data (REED)
• Consent

Evaluation Procedures (FIE)

After Evaluation:

• Review Evaluation
• My Child is Eligible
• My Child is NOT Eligible
• Disagree with Evaluation
• IEP Development

Reevaluation

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Texas Education Agency:

• Evaluation Timeline
• Coordinated Early Intervening Services
• Response to Intervention
• Dyslexia Services
• Letter to Administrators regarding Provision of Services for Students with Dyslexia and Related Disorders
• Review of Existing Evaluation FAQs
• Response to Intervention Guidance
  

SpedTex – Independent Education Evaluation (video)
Child Find, Evaluation, and ARD Supports Network – Childfind & Evaluation Guidance Document (pdf)

Legal Framework for the Child Centered Process:

• Child Find Duty
• Child Find for Parentally Placed Private School Children
• Closing the Gap
• Referral for Services
• Dyslexia Services
• Review of Existing Evaluation Data
• Evaluation Procedures
• Independent Educational Evaluation
  

Disability Rights Texas – How to Request an Initial Evaluation for Special Education Eligibility
Center for Parent Information and Resources – Evaluating Children for Disability
Evaluation Procedures – From the TARGET Manual by the Texas Statewide Leadership for Autism – While the information provided is specific in relation to students with autism, ANY parent can use the information to learn about the variety of assessments available
Learning Disabilities Association of America – Right to an Evaluation for Special Education Services
U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs – Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation
Wrightslaw –  Tests and Measurements and Assessments, Evaluations and Testing
Inclusion Network – Considering AT within the IEP Process
University of Texas/Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk – Parent Resources
Understood.org  – A Parent’s Guide to Response to Intervention
Articles from GreatSchools.org :

• Response-To-Intervention: An Emerging Method for LD Identification http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/emerging-method-for-ld-identification/
• Before Special Ed:  How Pre-Referral Works http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/pre-referral/