When you're worried about your child's speech or language, you may hear two suggestions at once: "Ask the school to evaluate" and "Get a private evaluation." Both are done by qualified professionals, and both can be genuinely useful. They're built to answer different questions, though, and knowing the difference can help you decide what to ask for and what to expect from each one.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For decisions about your child's specific situation, talk with your school team or a qualified advocate.
What is a school speech-language evaluation?
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a school evaluation has two jobs: to determine whether a child is a "child with a disability" under the law, and to determine the child's educational needs.[1] ASHA describes an evaluation in this setting as the procedures used "to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility" for special education.[7]
A few things about the process are set out in federal rules:
- Parents can ask. Either a parent or the school (public agency) may request an initial evaluation.[1]
- There's a timeline. The initial evaluation must be done within 60 days of receiving parental consent, or within the state's timeframe if the state sets one.[1]
- It's free to families. The Center for Parent Information and Resources explains that if the school agrees an evaluation is needed, "it must evaluate the child at no cost to parents."[5]
- Parents are part of the decision. A group of qualified professionals and the parent decide whether the child is eligible, and the school gives parents a copy of the evaluation report at no cost.[2]
School evaluations draw on many sources, including tests, parent input, and teacher recommendations.[2] ASHA lists classroom observation, teacher interviews, and work samples among the kinds of information school SLPs gather.[7] That classroom view is something a school team is especially well positioned to provide.
What is a private speech-language evaluation?
A private evaluation is done by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) outside the school system, such as in a clinic or private practice. Its purpose is clinical: to describe how your child communicates, whether a speech or language disorder is present, and what might help.
ASHA's Practice Portal describes what a comprehensive language assessment typically includes, such as a case history (birth, medical, developmental, and family history), the family's concerns, the languages the child uses, a hearing screening if one wasn't already done, and assessment of areas like vocabulary, grammar, and social use of language.[8] According to ASHA, a comprehensive assessment may result in a diagnosis, "recommendations for intervention and support," a referral to other professionals, or a finding of a cultural and linguistic difference only, which would not require intervention.[8]
The key difference: diagnosis vs. eligibility
The biggest difference is the question each evaluation answers. A private evaluation asks, "Does this child have a communication disorder, and what would help?" A school evaluation asks whether the child meets the legal definition of a child with a disability and needs special education and related services because of it.[3]
ASHA summarizes the school team's three questions: Is there a disability? If so, is there an adverse effect on educational performance? And if so, does the student need specially designed instruction and/or related services to make progress in the general education curriculum?[6] ASHA also notes that, in addition to federal IDEA guidelines, school SLPs must follow state and local requirements.[6] That's why a child can have a diagnosed speech or language disorder and still not qualify for school services. We explain more in why some kids don't qualify for school speech services.
| School evaluation | Private evaluation | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Determine IDEA eligibility and educational needs[1] | Describe communication skills, diagnose any disorder, and recommend next steps[8] |
| Who decides the outcome | A group of qualified professionals and the parent[2] | The evaluating SLP shares findings and recommendations with the family[8] |
| Cost to families | No cost to parents[5] | Varies by provider and payment method |
| Timeline | Within 60 days of consent, or the state's timeframe[1] | Varies by provider |
| What it can lead to | If eligible, an individualized education program (IEP)[2] | Recommendations, which may include private therapy[8] |
Will the school use a private evaluation?
It can be part of the picture. Under IDEA, if a parent shares an evaluation obtained at private expense, the results must be considered by the school, if the evaluation meets the school's criteria, in decisions about the child's free appropriate public education.[4] "Considered" doesn't mean the school must adopt the findings, but it does mean the information goes to the team.
IDEA also gives parents of a child with a disability the right to an independent educational evaluation (IEE), meaning an evaluation by a qualified examiner who isn't employed by the school.[4] If a parent disagrees with the school's evaluation, they can request an IEE at public expense; the school must then either pay for one or file for a due process hearing to show that its own evaluation is appropriate.[4]
Should I get both? A few things to consider
Many families use both, for different reasons. CPIR notes that parents have the right to have their child independently evaluated at any time at their own expense. It also cautions that when the same tests are repeated within a short time, "the validity of the results can be seriously weakened."[5] If you plan to do both, it helps to share the dates and names of tests already given so the second evaluator can choose other measures.
Questions that can help you decide:
- Do you mainly want to know whether your child qualifies for school services? Start with a written request to the school.[1, 5]
- Do you want a clinical picture of your child's communication, including areas that may not show up as a problem at school yet? A private evaluation is designed for that.[8]
- Did your child not qualify, and are you still concerned? Our page on what to do if your child didn't qualify walks through options.
If you're considering a private evaluation, you can read about how ours work on our evaluations page. Speech Me Therapy offers a free 15-minute consultation, and no referral is needed.
The bottom line
A school evaluation and a private evaluation aren't competitors. The school's evaluation decides whether a child is eligible for special education and what they need at school; a private evaluation describes a child's communication and recommends next steps. Understanding which question you want answered makes it easier to choose, and many families find that the two together give the fullest picture.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Sec. 300.301 Initial evaluations. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website.
- U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Sec. 300.306 Determination of eligibility. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website.
- U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Sec. 300.8 Child with a disability. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website.
- U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Sec. 300.502 Independent educational evaluation. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website.
- Center for Parent Information and Resources (n.d.). Evaluating School-Aged Children for Disability.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Eligibility for School-Based Speech-Language Services. ASHA.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Assessment and Evaluation of Speech-Language Disorders in Schools. ASHA.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Spoken Language Disorders (Practice Portal). ASHA.
Articles from Speech Me Therapy, a pediatric speech-language therapy practice in North Phoenix serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and families across Arizona by telehealth. Our posts summarize published guidance from professional and public health organizations; sources are listed at the end of every article.