An Individualized Education Plan or IEP can be the key to unlocking your child’s future. An undiagnosed learning disability can leave families feeling like growth is not attainable. But that’s simply not the case.
An IEP can help unlock growth and even some hidden strengths.. Many times, neurodiverse students are in need of a personal plan for success. It is not that they cannot reach their learning goals, it’s that they need different tools to do so. This is where an IEP comes in.
What is an IEP?
An IEP stands for an Individualized Education Plan. It defines tailored learning goals, as well as what supports and accommodations are needed to reach those goals.
This plan is decided by a team at your student’s school. You, your child’s educators and other present professionals will meet to figure out what your child needs.
What Qualifies a Child for an IEP?
Not every child qualifies for an IEP. But it is important to start the process if you are observing reoccurring or increasing learning challenges. The first step towards an IEP is an educational evaluation.
An educational evaluation will provide insight that can be used to determine if your child has a condition such as, ADHD, autism spectrum, or dyslexia.
If your child is struggling in class, their teacher might suggest an educational evaluation. This does not guarantee, however, that they will be tested or that they will receive an IEP. Alternatively, you can have a private evaluation done. Both may be used to qualify your student for an IEP. If your child was tested at school but they were denied for an IEP, you can still have them tested privately and build an argument for an IEP.
Should I Have My Child Tested Privately or Through Their School?
School evaluations are free of charge. They begin when your child is referred for an assessment. This recommendation only occurs when your child is already significantly struggling. This means if their education is being significantly supplemented by tutoring or other supports, they probably won’t qualify. This also means if they are behind but not significantly behind, they may be denied. The primary goal of the school is to determine if your child needs special education services.
The school will conduct class observations with your consent, accompanied with additional testing outside the classroom. This may take the student out of the classroom during school hours, further hurting their academics.
A private evaluation requires a fee. However, it does not require a recommendation. You can get your child help right away. You can also schedule testing around school and other obligations to help make sure your child does not miss class time.
At Compassionate Solutions SCV, we provide this private educational evaluation as well as special education tutoring, executive function counseling and more to ensure students can grow and reach their personal potential.
The process begins with contacting us and setting up a meeting. Then we can test your student in our offices. If needed, we can also observe your student in the classroom.
A private evaluation can also provide further insight into how your child’s mind works. It can lead to an IEP if necessary, but it can also provide more information about what your child needs to succeed.
Our goal is to reveal insight into your child’s strengths and weaknesses as well as to identify any existing learning disabilities. This information alone can be invaluable for creating more effective learning and studying habits.
If you are interested in scheduling a private evaluation or have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Even if an IEP is not the right choice for your child at this time, we can help your child open the doors to their future through specialized learning. Feel free to fill out a contact form here on our website. You can also call us at 661-255-2688.
