Here is one of the secrets to helping your child if you suspect special needs issues that your school may not tell you. As a parent, you can request an evaluation from the school district’s special education team at any time free of charge. However the key is you must put your request in writing to the school district’s administrator of special education.

Once you put it in writing, the law requires the school district has to follow through at no charge to the parents. Usually their evaluation will include academic testing, psychological testing, observations, health assessment, parent input and student interviews. The law says that the testing period must happen within 30 days from the original parental request.

What happens next? What does the law say your rights are as a parent? Next time, more hidden secrets in the fight for special education services that the school systems hope you don’t know.