Any person with a legitimate and appropriate interest in a student’s education may refer a child for a speech/language evaluation. This can include parents and teachers. A consent form must be signed by a parent and returned to the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in order to begin testing.

Once a student has been referred, the student's parents will be contacted by the school SLP. Parents may be asked to provide a case history of their child. Teachers may also provide input on how the student is doing in class. 

Once you have signed the consent for evaluation form, the evaluation will be completed and results will be given to the parent within 45 school days.

After a student has been evaluated, the SLP will schedule a meeting to go over the testing results. 

If the student qualifies for services, an Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting will be scheduled. This meeting includes all members of the IEP team, including parent(s), classroom teacher, principal, SLP, special education teacher and related service providers if necessary (such as the psychologist or occupational therapist), and anyone else that the parents feel would be helpful. The results of the evaluation will be explained, services will be offered, and parents can accept or reject these services.

To qualify for speech-language services, the student must receive a score that is 1.5-2.0 standard deviations below average on a standardized test and be identified by the SLP as having a communication disorder that adversely affects his or her education performance.

If it is determined that services are needed and wanted, an IEP will be discussed, approved, and signed by all members of the IEP team. This is done as a team decision. 

Once the IEP is in place, the student will begin receiving speech services, typically on a weekly basis, while they are at school.