| Are you concerned that your 3 year child may have | | | | education persons office, or should be sent by post |
| autism or a pervasive developmental disorder? Would | | | | office, certified with a return receipt requested. This will |
| you like to ask for special education testing but do not | | | | ensure that the person receives the letter. |
| know how? Would you like to know 8 things that | | | | Below is a sample letter: |
| should be included in special education evaluation and | | | | Ms. Terry Penney |
| testing letters? This article will not only discuss these 8 | | | | Cherry Hill School District |
| things, but will include a sample letter that can be sent | | | | 6 Pit Lane |
| to special education personnel in your district. | | | | Cherry Hill Alabama Zip Code |
| 8 Items to include are: | | | | April 25, 20__ |
| Item 1: Name of special education person in your | | | | Dear Ms. Penney: |
| district. If you do not know what the persons name is, | | | | My daughter Suzy Hardgrove is in 3rd grade at |
| call your superintendants office and ask for the name | | | | Cherry Hill elementary school and has a birth date of |
| of the person responsible for special education in your | | | | _________. Suzy has been struggling in reading |
| district. | | | | ever since she has started school in first grade. Her |
| Item 2: Representatives school address. Usually the | | | | first and second grade teachers worked very hard |
| special education person is in the same building as the | | | | with her but despite their hard work, Suzy continues to |
| school superintendent, but not always. You need to | | | | read at mid 1st grade level, even though she is in 3rd |
| know where to send the letter. | | | | grade. Suzy also struggles in other areas of |
| Item 3: The date of the letter | | | | academics (writing, spelling, and written expression), |
| Item 4: Your child's name, birthdate, and school that | | | | and I am concerned that she may have undiagnosed |
| they are attending (if they are in school. | | | | learning disabilities. |
| Item 5: The reason for the letter: I am asking that my | | | | This letter today is to ask for a comprehensive |
| child Suzy Waters receive a comprehensive | | | | psychological evaluation for Suzy. I would like this |
| evaluation to determine if she is eligible for special | | | | evaluation to include: a medical history, a social history, |
| education services. | | | | testing for intelligence, present levels of academic |
| Item 6: Put any information in the letter that supports | | | | performance (what levels Suzy's academics are at), |
| your asking for special education testing! For Example: | | | | adaptive and functional testing, testing in the area of |
| My daughter Suzy is in 3rd grade but her district wide | | | | phonemic awareness, phonological memory, nonsense |
| testing showed that Suzy reads at a mid 1st grade | | | | word reading, phonological decoding, and rapid naming. |
| level. Add copies of all information used in this section, | | | | And also because language disorders run in my family |
| to the letter. | | | | I am asking for a comprehensive speech/language |
| Item 7: Always put that you expect to hear from the | | | | evaluation to include receptive and expressive |
| school district about the testing within 10 days of | | | | language testing. |
| receiving this request, as the Individuals with Disabilities | | | | I expect to hear from you within 10 days about this |
| Education Act (IDEA) requires. | | | | testing, as IDEA requires. I look forward to working |
| Item 8: Put your name, and address as well as sign the | | | | with you, for the benefit of my daughter's education. |
| letter. Make two copies, one for the school and one | | | | Susan Hardgrove |
| for yourself. | | | | 115 Meadow Rd. |
| This letter should be hand delivered to the special | | | | |