When to Request a Special Education Evaluation

Many parents assume that if their child is struggling in school, the teacher or the school will notice and take the lead in getting them evaluated. Sometimes that happens, but sometimes it doesn’t.

I’ve worked with families who trusted the school to raise the red flag, only to find out years later that their child had been falling further and further behind. By the time an evaluation was completed, the gap had grown wide and the frustration even wider.

When I was teaching, I had a student who wasn’t evaluated until fourth grade. By the time he qualified as a student with a learning disability, he was reading, writing, and doing math more than three years below grade level.

What shocked me most was that in second grade, he had been earning A’s. On paper, it looked like everything was fine. But colleagues later told me that his former teacher often inflated grades rather than following the steps needed to begin an evaluation. That choice was absolutely unethical. It delayed services and left a child years behind where he should have been.

Parents Don’t Have to Wait for the School to Begin a Special Education Evaluation

As a parent, you have the right to request a special education evaluation at any time. If you suspect your child may have a disability or isn’t making progress despite extra help, you don’t have to wait for the school to bring it up.

Signs it may be time to request an evaluation

Every child has ups and downs, but if you’re noticing patterns that don’t improve with time or extra support, it may be more than “a phase.” Some red flags to watch for:

• Academic gaps that don’t close – Your child is consistently behind grade level in reading, writing, or math, even with extra help.

• Homework battles – Assignments take far longer than they should, often ending in tears, meltdowns, or major frustration.

• Behavior calls from school – You’re getting regular emails or phone calls about your child’s behavior, attention, or work completion.

• Social struggles – Your child has a hard time making or keeping friends, or seems “out of sync” with peers.

• Support isn’t working – Small group instruction, tutoring, or other interventions haven’t led to meaningful progress.

• Big differences between home and school reports – Maybe teachers say your child is doing fine, but you see daily struggles at home. Or the reverse — you see a capable child at home who’s falling apart in the classroom.

• Unexplained anxiety or resistance – Your child dreads going to school, complains of stomachaches, or says things like “I’m stupid” or “I can’t do this.”

How to Request a Special Education Evaluation

1. Be specific. Share your concerns, include examples, and describe what you see at home.

2. Ask for confirmation. Once the request is submitted, the school has a legal timeline to respond.

Collaboration is Key

Requesting an evaluation doesn’t have to be adversarial. Parents and schools share the same goal: helping children succeed. Evaluations can provide valuable insight into how a child learns and what supports will make the biggest difference.

At the same time, parents shouldn’t feel pressured to “wait and see.” Early identification matters. Your child only gets one shot at each grade level, and timely support can change everything.

Final Thought

The second-grade teacher in my story made an unethical choice, and it had lasting

consequences for her student. But I also know how she got there. The referral process takes significant time, data collection, and paperwork — and teachers aren’t given the resources, time, or compensation to do it well.

That’s why advocacy has to happen on two levels:

• For our children — Parents must know their rights and be ready to request evaluations when concerns arise.

• For the system — We need to advocate for teachers, and vote for education-minded leaders who will fund schools, provide resources, and make it realistic for educators to do the hard but vital work of early identification.

  
  

Both matter. Because when teachers are supported, and parents are empowered, our kids have the best chance to thrive.

Need Support?

If you’re unsure whether it’s time to request an evaluation, or you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I offer free consultations to help parents take the next step with confidence.