Evaluation/services question

ILoveBoys

If you have a private evaluation done (with a psychologist, is that right?), can that be used to get services through the school? Or am I correct in thinking that the school will have to do their OWN evaluation in order for a child to get accommodations through the school?

I'm taking my son in next week to talk to his pedi, and getting a referral for a private evaluation. However, our school system can take up to 60 school days to do an eval and IEP. We only have 59 days of school left (and that's if they don't forgive 10 of our snow days, if they do it's only 49). IF he gets a dx, could we be back at square one going into school in August?

ILoveBoys

@ auntie - you said get a report done by an MD, so what kind of referral should I be asking for?

  My biggest concern academically was the standardized testing at the end of the year, but I suppose for this year we have to hope for the best.

Also, are you saying I don't need to have a private evaluation? Only one from the school? Obviously, I want to completely cover all of my bases. I'm just not 100% sure what those bases are at this point.

ILoveBoys

@ auntie -

Yes, he will be 9 the end of April. He's in 3rd grade this year.

They have these MAP tests 3 times every year, which are for reading and math. He usually does very well on the one for Math (he likes math), but races through the one for reading. Last year, he did 45 questions in 20 minutes. They allowed him a retake the next day and he took 25 minutes. He did the same thing this year, except they wouldn't allow him a retake. When I asked him why he did his reading test so fast he replied "there was too much to read, so I just guessed at the questions."

   I think these tests at the end of the year are mainly for NCLB, and for school standings in the district, as they do MAP testing at the end of the year as well. 

   I just really think that since he's doing fine academically, and not causing huge scenes in the classroom, his teachers aren't noticing his social quirks.

ETA: I checked out the website, where were the templates you spoke of? Thanks.

ILoveBoys

MAP tests aren't optional, as far as I know. But that's given to everyone from K and up. Standardized testing starts in 3rd grade.

If he got an IEP next year, it would change the way they saw his tests?