Frequently Asked Questions

WHO TYPICALLY SEEKS AN ASSESSMENT?

• Elementary, middle and high school students enrolled in public, private, charter, or home school
• High school students seeking accommodations for the SAT or ACT
• College students seeking accommodations in college courses
• Adults pursuing their education later in life and feel there may be an underlying learning disability or ADHD that impacts their learning
• Parents who suspect their child is exceptionally bright or have a learning difference that they would like to better understand
• Students who have already been tested and their parents are interested in a second opinion
• Parents received an assessment from the child’s school that they believe is flawed or did not address their child’s needs
• Parents that have been denied an assessment by their school district
• Special needs students transitioning out of the school system

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A PRIVATE ASSESSMENT?

All school aged students could benefit from additional information about their learning and processing abilities.  An assessment outside of school could inform supports and enrichment outside of school as well as help a parent know whether special education supports should be pursued through their child’s school. Although parents may request an evaluation through their school, some parents prefer to not involve the school or they would like information sooner than the school is able to conduct the assessment.  In addition, an assessment can be used to help advance your student in a highly competitive environment by identifying the “sweet spot” between high expectations and accessing a person’s innate strengths and abilities.

For special needs students transitioning out of the school system, adulthood brings new challenges, and students with disabilities often benefit from a detailed transition assessment that clearly outlines their strengths and weaknesses, documents their learning needs, as well as the type and intensity of supports needed in order to live as independently as possible.

Yes.  Sometimes a private assessment is sought if a child was tested but did not qualify for special education services, or a child has an IEP and there could be new factors not previously assessed that are now impacting their education that they would like assessed.  Sometimes, consultation is simply needed to thoroughly explain an existing assessment, which may be adequate to address your student’s needs.  In such cases, additional assessment may not be warranted, and consultation can simply provide additional clarity on the existing assessment and provide suggestions for follow up steps based on the data.

WHAT IF MY SCHOOL PREPARED AN ASSESSMENT, BUT I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF MY CHILD?

Parents can request Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) from a qualified specialist if they believe that an assessment that a public education agency conducted is inadequate or flawed at the expense of the school district.  

CAN I TAKE THE ASSESSMENT REPORT TO MY CHILD’S SCHOOL?

Yes, if you choose, you can share the report with your child’s school.  The completed diagnostic assessment is comprehensive, and test scores and implications for your child are clearly explained. Any possible areas of suspected disability, along with how the assessment data aligns with special education eligibility criteria or considerations for section 504 eligibility and diagnostic criteria will clearly be outlined in the report as appropriate.

 CAN THE ASSESSMENT BE UTILIZED TO REQUEST ACCOMMODATIONS WITH THE COLLEGE BOARD, OR DIRECTLY TO MY COLLEGE?

Yes, the completed assessment report can be utilized for submission to the College Board when requesting accommodations (such as extended time or breaks, use of a calculator, computer or having the test read to the student, etc.) for the SAT or ACT, AP exams.  

College courses can sometimes highlight learning challenges that perhaps were not as evident in the traditional school setting due to the increased rigor and independence present in college, and college students may be in need of accommodations such as extended time and testing in a reduced distraction environment, use of technology and alternative media (such as audio textbooks), recording of lectures, or adaptive computer technology. The assessment report you will be given utilizes the current edition of recommended tests (using adult norms), and addresses all necessary criteria.

 HOW MUCH DOES AN ASSESSMENT COST?

Assessment fees are calculated based on your individual referral concerns and the depth of the assessment needed to adequately address the learning concerns. Comprehensive assessments typically range from $1,500 to $2,500.  However, a comprehensive assessment may not be needed and just IQ or a portion of an academic assessment could be completed to address a specific area of interest.  The scope of an assessment is highly individualized; upon consultation regarding the learning concerns, you will be provided the cost of the complete assessment  prior to testing. An example of prices for various services is provided below.

Intelligence Testing $650

Academic Testing $300-$750

Processing Testing $200

Behavior Assessment $300

Half of the total fee is payable at the beginning of the initial test session, with the other half of the balance paid at the second test session. For intelligence testing, the total fee is payable at the testing appointment. Methods of payment include cash, check, or credit card.

Many parents already have completed assessments and IEP’s, and simply seek  services for consultation to review existing information and provide recommendations or suggested follow up steps on the basis of current information from an experienced resource outside of their school system.  Very often, simply obtaining a “second opinion” from a trusted outside source is helpful.  Consultation fees are charged at the hourly rate of $150 and are paid at the consultation appointment.