By: Dr. Gabrielle Baker, President & Advocate
If your child is struggling in school, you may be wondering whether they need an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Perhaps they are falling behind in reading, struggling to focus, experiencing behavioral challenges, or having difficulty keeping up with their classmates.
You may have already expressed concerns to your child's teacher, only to hear that the school wants to "wait and see" or try additional interventions before considering special education.
Here's what I want Indiana parents to understand: You do not have to wait for your child's school to suggest a special education evaluation. You have the right to request one yourself.
Under Indiana's special education regulations, commonly known as Article 7, parents can request an educational evaluation to determine whether their child qualifies for special education and related services.
As an educational advocate, I frequently work with families who have spent months, sometimes years, trying to understand why their child is struggling. Knowing how to formally request an evaluation is one of the most important first steps parents can take.
Let's walk through the process.
What Is an IEP Evaluation?
An IEP evaluation, formally called an initial educational evaluation, is a comprehensive assessment conducted to determine whether a child qualifies for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The evaluation helps the school understand:
Whether your child has a disability that meets eligibility criteria.
How the suspected disability impacts their educational performance.
Your child's academic, developmental, behavioral, and functional strengths and needs.
Whether your child requires specially designed instruction.
What special education and related services may be necessary.
An evaluation is not simply one test. Depending on your child's suspected needs, it may involve academic assessments, psychological testing, classroom observations, behavior assessments, speech and language evaluations, occupational therapy assessments, and other appropriate measures.
Importantly, you do not need a medical diagnosis before requesting an evaluation. A school evaluation and a medical diagnosis serve different purposes.
Step 1: Identify Your Child's Areas of Concern
Before submitting your request, take some time to identify the specific challenges your child is experiencing.
For example:
Academic concerns:
Difficulty learning to read or understanding what they read.
Struggles with writing, spelling, or mathematics.
Falling behind despite classroom interventions.
Difficulty retaining previously learned information.
Attention and executive functioning concerns:
Difficulty staying focused or completing assignments.
Problems organizing materials or managing tasks.
Difficulty following multistep directions.
Significant challenges initiating or completing independent work.
Behavioral or emotional concerns:
Frequent meltdowns, emotional dysregulation, or school avoidance.
Difficulty transitioning between activities.
Behavioral incidents that interfere with learning.
Anxiety or emotional difficulties affecting school participation.
Communication, social, or sensory concerns:
Difficulty expressing needs or understanding language.
Challenges with peer interactions.
Sensory processing or motor difficulties.
Difficulty participating in classroom routines.
You do not have to identify the exact disability category your child may qualify under. That is part of the evaluation process.
Your responsibility is to communicate your concerns clearly enough that the school understands which areas may need evaluation.
Step 2: Submit a Formal Request for an Educational Evaluation
Under 511 IAC 7-40-4, Indiana parents may request an initial educational evaluation verbally or in writing.
Requests must be directed to licensed school personnel, such as a teacher, school counselor, school psychologist, building principal, or other school administrator.
Although verbal requests are permitted, I strongly recommend submitting your request in writing.
Why? Because a written request establishes a clear record of when you initiated the process and exactly what you requested.
I typically recommend emailing the school's principal and special education director, copying the classroom teacher when appropriate.
Your request should:
Clearly state that you are requesting an initial educational evaluation under Indiana Article 7 and IDEA.
Identify the academic, behavioral, developmental, or functional concerns prompting your request.
Ask for a comprehensive evaluation addressing all suspected areas of disability.
Request written notice of the school's decision and the appropriate consent paperwork.
You do not need to provide a lengthy explanation, obtain a doctor's recommendation, or prove that your child has a disability before making the request.
Sample Indiana IEP Evaluation Request Email
Subject: Formal Request for Initial Educational Evaluation – [Student Name]
Dear [Principal/Special Education Director],
I am writing to formally request a comprehensive initial educational evaluation for my child, [Student Name], who is currently in [Grade] at [School Name].
I have concerns regarding [briefly describe academic, behavioral, developmental, communication, attention, or other concerns]. These difficulties are impacting my child's educational experience, and I believe an evaluation is necessary to determine whether they qualify for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Indiana Article 7.
I am requesting that the evaluation address all areas of suspected disability, including [list relevant areas].
Pursuant to 511 IAC 7-40-4, I understand that the school must provide written notice within ten instructional days of receiving this request, indicating whether it proposes or refuses to conduct the evaluation.
Please confirm receipt of this request and provide the appropriate written notice and evaluation consent documentation.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to working collaboratively to ensure my child receives the support they need.
Sincerely,
[Parent Name]
Step 3: Understand Indiana's 10-Instructional-Day Response Requirement
One of the most important things Indiana parents need to understand is that the school cannot simply ignore an evaluation request.
Under 511 IAC 7-40-4, after a parent requests an initial educational evaluation, the school has 10 instructional days to provide written notice explaining whether it proposes or refuses to conduct the evaluation.
Instructional days are not the same as calendar days. Weekends, holidays, and days when students are not receiving instruction generally do not count.
The school's written notice must explain its decision and the information used to reach that decision.
If the school agrees to evaluate, it must identify the proposed evaluation procedures and obtain the required parental consent.
If the school refuses, it must explain its reasons and inform parents of their dispute resolution rights.
A verbal statement such as "we don't think your child needs testing" does not replace the required written notice.
Step 4: Know the 50-Instructional-Day Evaluation Timeline
If the school proposes an evaluation and you provide written consent, another important timeline begins.
Under 511 IAC 7-40-5, Indiana generally requires the initial educational evaluation to be completed and the Case Conference Committee (CCC) to convene within 50 instructional days after the school receives written parental consent.
There are limited exceptions to this timeline, including certain circumstances involving student transfers, repeated failure to make the student available for evaluation, and transitions from early intervention services.
An important distinction:
The 50-instructional-day timeline begins when the school receives your written consent, not when you initially request the evaluation.
This is why I encourage parents to return consent paperwork promptly and keep copies of everything they submit.
If the school proposes an evaluation but does not provide consent paperwork, follow up in writing.
Step 5: Make Sure the Evaluation Is Comprehensive
Not all evaluations are created equal.
One concern I frequently see is an evaluation that focuses on only one area while overlooking other needs that may significantly impact the student's educational experience.
For example, a child struggling with reading may also have difficulties with attention, working memory, written expression, or language processing.
A comprehensive evaluation should address all areas of suspected disability, not simply the area that prompted the original referral.
Under IDEA, evaluations must be sufficiently comprehensive to identify the child's special education and related service needs, whether or not those needs are commonly linked to a particular disability category.
Parents should ask:
What areas will be evaluated?
Will the evaluation include academic achievement and functional performance?
Will attention, executive functioning, behavior, or communication be assessed if concerns exist?
How will parent observations and outside evaluations be considered?
Are there additional areas that should be included before testing begins?
If you believe the proposed evaluation is too narrow, communicate those concerns in writing before the evaluation proceeds.
Step 6: Review the Evaluation Results Before the Case Conference
Once the evaluation is complete, the school will convene a Case Conference Committee meeting to review the results and determine eligibility.
In Indiana, parents can request a copy of the evaluation report before the meeting.
Under 511 IAC 7-40-5(h), when the parent makes the applicable advance request, the school must make the report available at no cost at least five instructional days before the scheduled CCC meeting.
Parents may also request a meeting to have the evaluation results explained before the CCC meeting, subject to the applicable procedural requirements.
I strongly encourage parents to make these requests when completing evaluation consent paperwork.
Reviewing the report in advance allows you to:
Understand your child's assessment results.
Identify areas of weakness that may require additional support.
Compare evaluation findings with your observations at home.
Prepare meaningful questions for the school team.
Determine whether the evaluation addressed all suspected needs.
Parents should not feel pressured to understand a comprehensive evaluation report for the first time while sitting in a meeting.
Step 7: Understand What Happens at the Eligibility Meeting
After the evaluation, the CCC will determine whether your child qualifies for special education services.
In Indiana, the CCC includes the parent and required school personnel.
The committee reviews the evaluation data and determines whether your child meets eligibility criteria and needs special education and related services.
If your child is found eligible, the CCC develops an IEP identifying the student's needs, goals, services, accommodations, and other required supports.
If your child is found ineligible, you can ask the team to explain the decision and the data supporting it.
An important point: A student does not have to be failing academically to qualify for an IEP.
Students may earn passing grades while experiencing significant challenges with reading, writing, executive functioning, communication, behavior, or other areas affecting educational performance.
Eligibility must be based on the applicable legal criteria and the student's individual needs, not grades alone.
What If the School Says My Child Must Complete RTI or MTSS First?
This is one of the most common concerns I hear from parents.
Schools frequently provide interventions through systems such as Response to Intervention (RTI) or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
These interventions can be valuable. However, a school cannot use RTI or MTSS as a reason to delay or deny an evaluation when a child is suspected of having a disability and needing special education.
Federal guidance specifically addresses this issue.
A child may receive general education interventions while the special education evaluation process moves forward.
If you are told that your child must complete another intervention cycle before an evaluation can be considered, request clarification in writing and ask for the school's formal response to your evaluation request.
What If the School Refuses to Evaluate My Child?
Indiana schools may refuse an evaluation request when they have an appropriate basis for doing so. However, they must provide written notice explaining their decision.
If your request is denied, I recommend taking the following steps:
Request and review the written notice. Identify the specific reasons the school provided for refusing the evaluation.
Review the supporting data. Ask what assessments, classroom observations, intervention data, and other information the school relied upon.
Document your concerns. Provide examples of how your child's difficulties are affecting their educational performance.
Consider additional information. Relevant medical records, outside evaluations, work samples, and progress reports may help clarify your concerns.
Understand your dispute resolution options. Indiana Article 7 provides procedures for mediation and due process hearings when parents disagree with certain school decisions.
Parents do not have to accept a verbal denial or continue waiting indefinitely without understanding the school's position.
Frequently Asked Questions About IEP Evaluations in Indiana
Can I request an IEP evaluation without a doctor's diagnosis?
Yes. A medical diagnosis is not required to request an initial educational evaluation. Schools are responsible for evaluating students when there is reason to suspect a disability and a need for special education services.
Can I request an evaluation if my child has good grades?
Yes. Passing grades do not automatically rule out a disability or the need for specially designed instruction. The school must consider the student's individual educational and functional needs.
Does requesting an evaluation automatically qualify my child for an IEP?
No. The evaluation process determines whether your child meets eligibility requirements. An evaluation request does not guarantee an IEP.
How much does an IEP evaluation cost in Indiana?
An initial educational evaluation conducted by the public school under IDEA is provided at no cost to the parent.
Can I disagree with the school's evaluation results?
Yes. Parents who disagree with an evaluation conducted by the public agency may request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense, subject to applicable procedures and requirements.
Final Thoughts: You Don't Have to Wait Until Your Child Is Failing
If there is one thing I want parents to take away from this article, it is this:
You do not have to wait until your child is significantly behind, failing classes, or experiencing repeated behavioral challenges before asking questions about special education eligibility.
Early identification matters.
A comprehensive evaluation can provide valuable information about how your child learns, where they are struggling, and what supports may be necessary for meaningful educational progress.
If you believe your child may need special education services, submit your request in writing, understand the applicable timelines, and stay actively involved throughout the process.
Need Help Navigating the Indiana Special Education Process?
At Education Advocates of America (EAA), we help families understand their rights, review evaluations, prepare for case conferences, and advocate for appropriate special education services.
Whether your school has denied an evaluation, your child has been found ineligible, or you simply need guidance getting started, you do not have to navigate the process alone.
Education Advocates of America provides educational advocacy services and information, not legal representation. This article is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
