Advice re school psych testing results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Request an IEE - super simple and you can Google sample request letters- and have the county pay for testing from a private provider of your choosing. That way you really can focus on the services you all do need. I’m in FCPS and can tell you that I don’t trust the school system to provide correct information anymore, which is sad and frustrating. Good luck!

This is bad advice for MCPS. An IEE will require a lawyer to get and show the tester was completely incompetent and the results were invalid. You won't get this OP.

Federal law says that school systems can't merely say no to IEE requests -- if they think their evaluation is sufficient they have to file due process and convince a hearing officer that an IEE isn't necessary. Does MCPS really do that?

No they do not. Almost never. They pay for the IEE. The cost of due process outweighs the cost of new testing.

[Anonymous]

Agree with previous posters. Write a letter to RACU and copy he principal and special educator. Say that you disagree with the results of the assessment(s) and are requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense. You can state the reasons why you disagree - it doesn't seem to be a true reflection of your child's abilities; you are concerned he rushed through the test; it doesn't answer all of the questions the team has about his disabilties; you feel a more thorough evaluation will help you to better understand his strengths and needs so you can make informed decisions about his educational program. Does not require an attorney to make the request. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

School psych here. What is his diagnosis/IDEA classification? If the cognitive assessment results don't change anything in terms of classification or placement, I wouldn't re-test. If these results do impact classification/IEP services (and you think they are inaccurate), I would request an IEE. You could also speak to the school psych and ask if they would re-test your child using a different measure. Cognitive assessments are a helpful snapshot of cognitive functioning, and ideally psychologists aren't weighing on them too heavily. If they are - you want to make sure it's accurate if you disagree.

Also - were the cognitive assessments (3 years ago and now) different measures? Some kids respond better to certain tests (e.g., WISC is more engaging than WJ).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School psych here. What is his diagnosis/IDEA classification? If the cognitive assessment results don't change anything in terms of classification or placement, I wouldn't re-test. If these results do impact classification/IEP services (and you think they are inaccurate), I would request an IEE. You could also speak to the school psych and ask if they would re-test your child using a different measure. Cognitive assessments are a helpful snapshot of cognitive functioning, and ideally psychologists aren't weighing on them too heavily. If they are - you want to make sure it's accurate if you disagree.

Also - were the cognitive assessments (3 years ago and now) different measures? Some kids respond better to certain tests (e.g., WISC is more engaging than WJ).

It’s OHI. Thanks for weighing in. We’re not sure yet re classification. The tests from three years ago and now were both WISC V. The same. He did comprehensive neuropsych testing before. He also did WJ now and we don’t know how that came out yet though I’m assuming poorly. I’d like a nonverbal iq, as his has always been in average range. So we may seek that,

[Anonymous]

Sorry but you all are wrong. Op you are not going to get an IEE through MCPS...but feel free to waste your money and time trying to request one. Almost no one gets one granted in mcps...and things are even worse now that thry beefed up their litigation department.

[Anonymous]

Other factors can influence performance on a test, such as attention or even motivation. Results can and do change over time. It’s just one data point. Is the school test results going to change access to services or placement you want? If not, I would not put your child through more testing. Testing is a lot of time, and can be stressful and fatiguing. If it’s not necessary, don’t do more testing or an IEE. Think of what’s best for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but you all are wrong. Op you are not going to get an IEE through MCPS...but feel free to waste your money and time trying to request one. Almost no one gets one granted in mcps...and things are even worse now that thry beefed up their litigation department.

Are you saying that mcps files due process against every parent who requests an iee or that they illegally refuse to grant them? Or, as I suspect, you didn't get one and so you are extrapolating to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other factors can influence performance on a test, such as attention or even motivation. Results can and do change over time. It’s just one data point. Is the school test results going to change access to services or placement you want? If not, I would not put your child through more testing. Testing is a lot of time, and can be stressful and fatiguing. If it’s not necessary, don’t do more testing or an IEE. Think of what’s best for your child.

This is OP - that’s what I’m leaning toward but I don’t know how damaging this score is in terms of placement yet. Have to wait and see. We will seek a private nonverbal iq test etc. in the mean time, which we will likely just pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but you all are wrong. Op you are not going to get an IEE through MCPS...but feel free to waste your money and time trying to request one. Almost no one gets one granted in mcps...and things are even worse now that thry beefed up their litigation department.

Not according to the actual lawyers that litigate in MCPS. It doesn’t matter how “beefed up” a legal team is. Testing costs $4-5 k, the costs associated with defending testing are higher. It’s not a tough equation.

[Anonymous]

I'd get a second test, maybe a different one that can bridge any gaps and verify the accuracy. We paid $1600 for a very detailed report and are happy with the outcome after years of improper testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School psych here. What is his diagnosis/IDEA classification? If the cognitive assessment results don't change anything in terms of classification or placement, I wouldn't re-test. If these results do impact classification/IEP services (and you think they are inaccurate), I would request an IEE. You could also speak to the school psych and ask if they would re-test your child using a different measure. Cognitive assessments are a helpful snapshot of cognitive functioning, and ideally psychologists aren't weighing on them too heavily. If they are - you want to make sure it's accurate if you disagree.

Also - were the cognitive assessments (3 years ago and now) different measures? Some kids respond better to certain tests (e.g., WISC is more engaging than WJ).

It’s OHI. Thanks for weighing in. We’re not sure yet re classification. The tests from three years ago and now were both WISC V. The same. He did comprehensive neuropsych testing before. He also did WJ now and we don’t know how that came out yet though I’m assuming poorly. I’d like a nonverbal iq, as his has always been in average range. So we may seek that,

Same school psych here. The WISC has a nonverbal composite that assesses overall IQ without the verbally loaded subtests. What was that score? Also, what is your ideal classification/placement for your child, and when is the IEP meeting?

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. OP here. The woodcock Johnson testing came in average, so I think that alleviates the issue of certificate program for now. I think it’s just very unlikely we would be in MCPS for high school. For kids like mine I think you have to be very careful about who you let administer an IQ test. I did not want to let the school do it and I think my instincts were absolutely correct.