stupid IEP question - private testing v. school-provided testing

[Anonymous]

I'm sure some of you switched on moms can give me the answer to my IEP question. I'm currently swimming in a sea of books trying to figure out the process and I still can't tell -- can you refuse IEP testing by the school, get a child privately tested and provide the private testing during the IEP process, thereby preventing the school from doing any testing? I can see that I have a right to refuse IEP testing, but I can't understand if I refuse IEP testing if that also means I am declining to enter the IEP process. I know that the IEP process requires appropriate evaluation, but I can't tell if privately provided testing will suffice? (My question assumes that we provide the right kind of testing from a qualified tester.)

I know I sound paranoid, but I have already been through one IEP meeting where I was told many things about the IEP process which I later found out were flat-out wrong. I am now concerned, for example, that if I have my DC tested by the school system that the testing will be poorly done and will just undermine my case.

I'm doubly concerned now that I have made a records request of the school and can see how little information and documentation exists about DC's academic progress. What little "testing" and evaluation has been done is largely recorded as numbers and there is no very little substantive record to examine or challenge.

Help! I'm sure the answer is obvious, and I am way over-thinking.....

[Anonymous]

Schools are not required to accept the results of private testing. So, if you refuse the school's testing, the school may be required to review the private testing but there's no requirement to accept/act on the results.

Not sure where you are located, but school testing is not always bad. We're in Arlington and I think the testing captured a lot of DS's challenges/strengths and he did get an IEP as a result of the testing. Interestingly, we are considering a private neuropsych evaluation now, a couple of years later, to see if we learn anything more -- we expect the school will consider the results but that's not our primary goal: We're trying to determine if DC has some specific learning disabilities, thinking ahead to middle school and beyond.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You can bring supplemental, outside testing to the table. They may accept it or they may decide to do their own, but it can be part of the considerations in the meeting.

We took outside testing to our first meeting and the school accepted it.

I was glad to have the thorough, independent outside testing and I believe it helped us.

[Anonymous]

If you want services through the school, you need to submit to the testing. However, if you think their findings are not correct--do not sign anything, e.g., the IEP plan.

Have your own testing done and bring copies of results with you to IEP meeting. It's been my experience that often the people at the table won't read them. Therefore bring separate one page copies with diagnosis/relevant points highlighted.

[Anonymous]

We did our own testing privately and then submitted the results to the school. This began the IEP process for us. They never did any further testing beyond what we provided. Maybe I am paranoid, but it is in the schools interest to provide as little as they can (and still get a good testing result) so I preferred an unbiased tester.

[Anonymous]

OP I strongly suggest you consider hiring an advocate to help you through this process.

It stinks, but if the school employees are telling you things about the process that just plain aren't true, you may need some outside help.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree about the advocate -- it was expensive but worth it. Without the advocate, the school was patronizing and unresponsive. With the advocate, things happened fast and we got what we needed.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PPs. The committees are supposed to consider outside evaluations but at our school, they always do their own testing. I also highly recommend using a consultant/advocate.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the helpful responses. I should have mentioned we are in MCPS.

Has anyone ever provided private testing in MCPS and had the school insist to test itself? Conversely, has anyone in MoCo provided private testing and been able to proceed to IEP plane w/o any MCPS testing/just private?

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree about the advocate -- it was expensive but worth it. Without the advocate, the school was patronizing and unresponsive. With the advocate, things happened fast and we got what we needed.

Totally agree about the advocate. We could not afford one so we went to FCPS to provide one. Also, we educated ourselves. It helps to understand that the system will tell you anything to dumb you into their boxes. Also, FCPS did not care about outside testing. In fact they spent too much time trying to dispute it. They did, however, accept the results of the GMU testing service. I can't remember what they call it, I believe there is a waiting list and they work on a sliding scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the helpful responses. I should have mentioned we are in MCPS.

Has anyone ever provided private testing in MCPS and had the school insist to test itself? Conversely, has anyone in MoCo provided private testing and been able to proceed to IEP plane w/o any MCPS testing/just private?

Thanks again!

I brought private testing results in for two different kids -- one for a speech issue and one for accommodations for ADHD. In each case the MCPS person (speech pathologist and psychologist, respectively) reviewed and accepted the results and did not insist on additional testing beyond observation in the classroom. I found it helped that the testing came from reliable sources and was thorough. I used Univ. of MD for the speech report and Stixrud and Associates for the neuropsych testing for ADHD.

For ADHD, we also had an advocate and the teachers were in agreement about the diagnosis and effects in the classroom, so it would have been hard for them to deny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the helpful responses. I should have mentioned we are in MCPS.

Has anyone ever provided private testing in MCPS and had the school insist to test itself? Conversely, has anyone in MoCo provided private testing and been able to proceed to IEP plane w/o any MCPS testing/just private?

Thanks again!

I did private testing for my son in MCPS. They considered it, but also did their own. In our case, it wasn't a close call by any means - we got the IEP.

[Anonymous]

you can have the school do their testing and then request an IEE (independent educational evaluation) where you get to pick the psychologist who does the testing. It does prolong the process but the school system paid for $1800 of it (for us, Fairfax County--but I'm sure the same in Montgomery county). They don't tell you about IEE's...but you are entitled to an independent evaluation.

The only catch is ---it can only be approved after the school does their testing. We learned so much more from the IEE because they really went into depth and diagnosed issues that the school could not (in our case, dyslexia) and gave us SPECIFIC recommendations rather than general accommodations. It was a long, arduous road, but I think we're on track now. We used MindWell and they really helped us. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

They must consider independent testing. And, even though they don't have to agree with it, remember that you are a member of the IEP team that designs your child's IEP. So, in other words, you are part of the "they," and can push and push the results of the testing and challenge the rest of the team as to why they won't use it or consider it developing the IEP. It's uncomfortable to do this, but they rely upon your discomfort to get you to agree to predetermined plans.

I had no idea this was the scheme until we started having issues. Only then did I research and learn and really comprehend the power I have as a parent and a requisite member of the IEP team.