Testing question mcps re learning difficulty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My insurance does not cover private testing when I've inquired

Private pay if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Some great advice here. No personal experience (my kid has 504 for clear ADHD and no LD) but I am told that the school testing can be lacking. Ask for IEP eval and see what comes out of it. Make sure you have your own evidence of grades, teacher comments etc. Since school year had not started yet you might not be able to get good observations from this years teachers so hopefully they consult previous years.

Good luck. I will tell you these IEP/504 meetings are horrible in that you might not like what you hear. Don't back down. Follow your gut that your kid needs help. If MCPS does not find anything then unfortunately you would need to pay for private testing.

[Anonymous]

Adding to say that you need the school testing for school services. If you come in with a private eval, they will consider it but conduct their own. So might as well start with the free school one, and go private if you disagree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You write a letter to the principal requesting an IEP meeting to start the process due to a suspected learning disability. If the letter is in writing, they are required to hold a meeting.

They will call a meeting quite quickly (I think they have 30 days). At the meeting prepare to show them your data- old report cards, writing samples, math samples, emails from last year' teacher about not being able to start without her, etc... This will be your time to make your case and teams can be challenging so do not call the meeting until you've had time to do your homework!

At the meeting, you will come to a team decision (with the school's opinion weighing stronger than yours whether you like it or not) as to whether there is enough evidence that there is a potential learning disability to move forward.

If you move forward, you will discuss what type of testing the school team will complete. This is done completely free of charge.

After any testing, you will come back together to determine if the testing showed a disability and how to move forward with support.

All this said, it is a lot quicker and easier to get support with private testing, so consider the best way forward.

All of the above is correct. I would add to start with a conference with your child’s teacher first to be sure you have a clear understanding of what the teacher has observed. Also review their test scores and the type of progress you have seen the child make over the course of the school year. If this is a K student who it’s their first time in school, there may not actually be a problem.