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School: IEP & 504

How to request a special education evaluation (with state timelines)

If you think your child may need special education, you can ask the school to evaluate them. Schools also have a legal duty, called Child Find, to identify students who may need services.

Updated · 3 min read

Ask in writing

Send a short, dated letter or email to the principal or the district's special education office. Describe your concerns (reading, attention, behavior, communication…) and ask for a full evaluation for special education. A written request starts the clock and leaves a record.

What happens next

  1. The school responds, and if it agrees, sends you an evaluation plan to sign. In California, the district must send you an assessment plan within 15 days of your request, not counting some school breaks.
  2. The evaluation is completed within your state's timeline after you sign consent: about 60 days in California, 45 school days in Texas, 60 school days in Florida (each state has exceptions).
  3. The team meets to review the results and decide eligibility (in Texas, the ARD committee meets within 30 calendar days of the evaluation report).
  4. If the school refuses to evaluate, it must explain why in writing (prior written notice).

If you disagree with the results

You can ask for an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at public expense by a qualified evaluator outside the district. The district must either pay for it or ask a hearing officer to decide that its own evaluation was appropriate.

The process in Lumina

How Lumina helps, step by step

  1. 1

    Log your request

    Add an “IEP & agencies” note with the date and a copy of your letter, and upload the letter to Documents.

  2. 2

    Track the timeline

    Create an Evaluation deadline at the end of your state's timeline, with reminders: you'll know right away if the school is late.

  3. 3

    Gather evidence

    Your notes from school, therapy and home are dated observations you can share with the evaluator.

  4. 4

    Keep every report

    Upload the evaluation report and any IEE in Documents; Lumina can summarize them in plain English, on your device.

Everything you write stays encrypted on your device: neither Lumina nor anyone else can read it.

Frequently asked questions

Can the school say no?+

Yes, but it must give you written notice explaining why. You can then use the dispute options in your procedural safeguards.

Does a private evaluation count?+

The school must consider it, but isn't required to adopt its conclusions. Share it in writing and keep a copy.

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This guide gives general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules and timelines vary by state and district and can change: check with your school district, your state agency or the official websites. Lumina is not a medical device.