When do assessments begin in K?

[Anonymous]

I'm becoming increasingly concerned that my soon-to-be kindergartener may have a learning disorder, but the county won't evaluate her since she's close to entering kindergarten. Any idea how long into the school year we'll have to wait for an assessment and services? I'd go private but those waitlists sound long too, and of course, $$$.

[Anonymous]

Im not sure what the “rules” are for the start of school. There might be a period where referrals can’t be made. when allowed you can fill out a referral form. After you send in form, the committee has 10 days to meet and discuss and move on from there.

[Anonymous]

You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im not sure what the “rules” are for the start of school. There might be a period where referrals can’t be made. when allowed you can fill out a referral form. After you send in form, the committee has 10 days to meet and discuss and move on from there.

And meet and discuss won’t necessary turn into an evaluation. If this is a concern, pursue privately.
FCPS will delay and say they need more data and need to try interventions. It won’t be quick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im not sure what the “rules” are for the start of school. There might be a period where referrals can’t be made. when allowed you can fill out a referral form. After you send in form, the committee has 10 days to meet and discuss and move on from there.

And meet and discuss won’t necessary turn into an evaluation. If this is a concern, pursue privately.
FCPS will delay and say they need more data and need to try interventions. It won’t be quick.

Yes. And there is a serious shortage of sped teachers so not sure there can be a higher case load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the intel! And thank you for the work you do. Child Find told me I'd need to go through the principal to get the process started. Is there any benefit to reaching out now to get the ball rolling? (Other than outing myself as a pain-in-the-ass parent!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the intel! And thank you for the work you do. Child Find told me I'd need to go through the principal to get the process started. Is there any benefit to reaching out now to get the ball rolling? (Other than outing myself as a pain-in-the-ass parent!)

No. Teachers return 8/12.

Did you talk to child find before the school year ended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the intel! And thank you for the work you do. Child Find told me I'd need to go through the principal to get the process started. Is there any benefit to reaching out now to get the ball rolling? (Other than outing myself as a pain-in-the-ass parent!)

If you strongly suspect your child has a learning disability, then put the request in writing now. That will start the 10 days to have the meeting. At the meeting, bring any preschool teachers or other people who would have done academic things (that includes play based preschool) for your child. Having their input will help with the decision to test. If they decide to test, then your child will receive services sooner than if you waited.

[Anonymous]

You need to submit your request to the school in writing. They have a certain number of days to respond.

www.wrightslaw.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the intel! And thank you for the work you do. Child Find told me I'd need to go through the principal to get the process started. Is there any benefit to reaching out now to get the ball rolling? (Other than outing myself as a pain-in-the-ass parent!)

If you strongly suspect your child has a learning disability, then put the request in writing now. That will start the 10 days to have the meeting. At the meeting, bring any preschool teachers or other people who would have done academic things (that includes play based preschool) for your child. Having their input will help with the decision to test. If they decide to test, then your child will receive services sooner than if you waited.

Make sure you bring precious teachers, because the school will absolutely say “let’s wait,” if the meeting is held with 10 days of the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to fill out a form. They won’t do anything that meets your needs and they really prefer not to refer or test kindergarteners. They try to go with the idea that they are just getting used to school or that they can move them to where they need to be with strong teaching and intervention. I am one of those intervention people. We had one kid on an IEP last year of the 10 kids I pulled for intervention. And I pulled those most in need. If you wait it will take at least half the year if not longer and you will get push back when you request testing in writing, but once you request it they have to do it. Good luck.

Thanks for the intel! And thank you for the work you do. Child Find told me I'd need to go through the principal to get the process started. Is there any benefit to reaching out now to get the ball rolling? (Other than outing myself as a pain-in-the-ass parent!)

If you strongly suspect your child has a learning disability, then put the request in writing now. That will start the 10 days to have the meeting. At the meeting, bring any preschool teachers or other people who would have done academic things (that includes play based preschool) for your child. Having their input will help with the decision to test. If they decide to test, then your child will receive services sooner than if you waited.

Make sure you bring precious teachers, because the school will absolutely say “let’s wait,” if the meeting is held with 10 days of the school year.

And it’s not open-ended testing, you need to say specifically what the issues are so they can focus on that area.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. Definitely put your request in writing and date it. Submit copies to the principal, teacher and case manager (or whatever it is called by you). Then the school is bound by law to meet with you within a certain amount of days. However, this does not mean they are required to evaluate your child at that point. But, but, if you push, and push hard (ie, bring an advocate, bring a lawyer, or even mention doing so) it is more likely your child will be evaluated. This, I believe, can take up to 60 school days. Ask, in writing, for copies of all assessments (classroom or otherwise).

May I ask why you think your child has a learning disability? Or do you prefer not to discuss here?

[Anonymous]

Did preschool ever mention any concerns? My preschool gently let me know that I should contact Child Find for an evaluation. They have the knowledge, skills and experience of having seen and taught many, many kids that age. If they did not raise any concerns—what are your concerns? (Every kid learns at their own pace.)

[Anonymous]

DS K Teacher pulled me aside about a month into the school year to talk to me about his speech. We had thought there was an issue and she noted it in her interactions with him. She told me that she would ask the ST to spend a bit more time with DS when she was doing her evaluations for each of the kids. The ST noticed an issue and we met to discuss his being formally evaluated, which he was, and then set an IEP.

I had also talked to the K Teacher about possible LDs, I have a long list of them, but she was not concerned about the letter and number reversal because that is normal for the age. It did eventually clear up, it slowly improved through 3rd grade. I was also worried because he hated writing and did his damndest to avoid writing in school and at home. She kept an eye on all of that and did not think that there was an issue. None of his other Teachers thought there was an issue either, I am still on the fence about dysgraphia because of his writing but that could e that it is his weak area.

The schools won't do formal assessments but the Teachers are noticing what kids are struggling and what seems out of the norm. That said, I hear repeatedly about kids whose parents are asking questions, getting pat answers, and then testing in 3rd grade shows an LD. Schools don't want to spend the money on testing every kid that shows some of the signs of LDs because those signs will clear up for most of the kids by 2nd grade.

I agree with the PP, if your preschool mentioned concerns then I would go ahead and start the process. If your preschool has not mentioned concerns then some of what you are seeing could be age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Contact the school now.