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Special Education Evaluation: What Parents Should Know and Ask

By Leslie Soodak, Ph.D.

Pace University

And Elizabeth Erwin, Ed.D.

Montclair State University

A "special education evaluation" is a process used for making decisions about a child's eligibility for special education. A special education evaluation is done to decide whether your child has a disability and whether your child requires special education and related services. Both conditions must be met in order for a child to be eligible to receive special education supports and services.

A number of disabilities may make a child eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The types of disabilities are also called "classifications" or "categories." Not everyone agrees about the definitions of the disabilities. A disability may not be defined in the same way in different schools or districts.

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