Eligibility Testing For Special Education | Special Education Decoded

In this episode, we discuss Private Facilities VS Public Schools when it comes to special education eligibility testing!
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Special Education Eligibility Testing - Private Facility VS Public School
1. The People Involved In The Testing Process
2. What Each Type Of Facility Uses For Eligibility Testing
3. The Evaluation Process For Eligibility Testing
4. The Cost of Private VS Public School Eligibility Testing
As a parent, you may have noticed that your child is having some difficulty with some things.
● Academic related
● Struggling with social interactions
● Speech concerns
- It may be time to pursue testing your child to see if an underlying issue is present.
I know this topic is tough for MANY parents… it was for me!
My wife kept saying we should get our son tested since he was delayed in most categories… but I was concerned about having a label placed on him.
Anyway, once I moved passed the label portion… I quickly realized I SHOULD have listened to my wife and taken this step much sooner!
If you’re struggling as I did with even taking the first step and getting your child tested… There are tons of reasons why you should deeply consider doing this sooner rather than later.
Why would you want your child to be tested?
● They Can Gain Services Specific To Their Needs
● Academic Path Becomes Tailored Toward Them
● Specialized Services Outside Of School
○ Speech
○ Occupational Therapy
○ Physical Therapy
○ ABA
● Catch The Underlying Issue Early
● Specialized Assistance Leads To Self-Confidence
● You Know The Underlying Issue
So, once you choose to get your child tested… you will have some options…
Testing Options For Special Education Eligibility
1. Private Facility
2. Public School
Differences Between Eligibility Testing At A Private Facility VS. Public School
**The people involved in the eligibility testing process
1. Private Facility
a. medical doctors
b. pediatric neuropsychologists
c. speech-language pathologists
d. clinical psychologists
2. Public School
a. Special Education Teacher
b. Educational Specialists
i. Experts in 504 Plans
ii. Specialized in all areas of special education
c. Educational Diagnostician
i. Tests What A Child Knows And Doesn’t Know
d. School Psychologists
**What’s Used For The Eligibility Test?
1. Private Facility
a. Use The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition)
i. Published By The Americal Psychiatric Association
ii. Principal Authority For Psychiatric Diagnoses
iii. Health Care Providers Work Off Of The “DSM” Classification
b. Diagnosis may not be impacting your child academically
c. May diagnosis disabilities that aren’t included in;
i. IDEA
ii. Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Act
d. Both Diagnosis And Disabilities Considered Ongoing
2. Public School Eligibility Testing
a. Use Conditions Based On IDEA (Individuals With Education Disabilities Act)
b. Must Be Identified Under One (or more) of the 13 disability Categories;
i. Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
ii. Other Health Impairment
iii. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
iv. Emotional Disturbance
v. Speech Or Language Impairment
vi. Visual Impairment (Including Blindness)
vii. Deafness
viii. Hearing Impairment
ix. Deaf-Blindness
x. Orthopedic Impairment
xi. Intellectual Disability
xii. Traumatic Brain Injury
xiii. Multiple Disabilities
c. The Disability Must Impact Children Academically
d. Children Are Reassessed Every Three Years
i. This redetermines eligibility
3. Eligibility Testing Evaluation Process
a. Private Facility
i. Physical Exam May Take Place
ii. Possible Medical Testing
b. Public School
i. Classroom Observation
ii. Research Overall Academic Experience
c. Both Private Facilities And Public Schools
i. Parent Interviews
ii. Ask Teacher For Input
iii. Standardized Testing
iv. Complete Mental Health Screenings
v. Review Medical History of the Child and Family
4. The Cost Difference
a. Private Eligibility Testing
i. Insurance Company
ii. Out Of Pocket
b. Public School Eligibility Testing
i. Provided at no cost
**IMPORTANT NOTES
● Neither Option Guarantee’s Your Child Will Receive Services
● Private Testing Doesn’t Automatically Qualify For A 504 Plan
○ Your Child Will Still Need To Be Found Eligible
● Length Of Time For The Entire Process Will Vary Substantially
○ Most Schools Are Allowed 65 Days To Complete;
■ Testing
■ Observations
■ Data Collection
■ Review Of Information
○ Then, an eligibility meeting is scheduled
○ Private Facilities May Happen Much Faster
■ May Not Be As “In-Depth”
That wraps up our discussion about Private Facilities VS Public Schools when it comes to special education eligibility testing.
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From all of us at SpecialEdResource.com - Thank you!

[@christinemarrs4013]

I love your videos! I taught Developmental Preschool for many years before retiring from the public school system. I now teach early childhood and ECSE at a local university. These videos help me clarify the IEP process and my own personal experiences. Thank you so much!

[@mimedeiros26]

Awesome video, thanks for doing this. Why the Public School asks for Home Assessments and not Health Assessments? What is involved on the Home Assessments, is that safe for parents and the child? No future problems from it?

[@sarahmotlong949]

If a child is eligible for the 504 plan, but is not enrolled in the school within district, but rather is homeschooled, is there anything the parent can do when they are told no additional services can be provided beyond the initial screening? Thanks in advance 🙏🏼

[@TRippon2000]

If a student is tested and an IEP is created in a public school, will that IEP transfer to a private school with the same modifications or does the IEP change to what a school can offer.

[@Specialedresource777]

Some schools don't have Special Education programs... if they do, the modifications detailed in the IEP SHOULD transfer. This question would be something to discuss specifically with the new school.