What info to include when requesting public school eval?

[beachbaby]

DD (5) is currently in private pre-K and has been receivng private therapies (OT, ST, PT) for over a year. She just did get a formal ASD dx, though. Next year, she'll be entering kindergarten. I'm about to write a letter to the public school requesting an eval in order to begin services. My question is, how specific are you when requesting the eval? Do you include your child's dx, areas of weakness (speech, gross & fine motor, social), both? Any particluarly good sample letters or other tips on what to include?

Thanks, mamas!

[Linda on the move]

I'm sure there are web sites about this and other moms have done other things, but what I did was write a very specific letter with a copy of my DD's medical dx attached. Basically I stated what we were requesting and what the dx's were, and what specific issues needed to be addressed. I kept it to less than a page (a nice neat page with decent margins) but provided the details I thought would be helpful to them in making plans. I included a bullet list of major issues with my dd that were descriptive rather than proscriptive.

I was clear and direct, but very polite. I  always assumed that the school and I were working together. We needed to communicate, I didn't need to fight.

My DD's medical dx is in a letter from her doctor on his letterhead, and I included a copy. A medical dx of autism is a very big deal when it comes to school accommodations.

I'm sure others will have more insight!

[beachbaby]

Thanks, Linda! I'm going to ask her Dr. for a letter stating her dx. I'm very anxious about the whole process, but trying to put my emotions aside and focus on advocating for my DD.

[KCMichigan]

Our school actually had a form to fill out requesting an eval.

It could be filled out by a teacher or parent.

There was a checklist of those you/teacher wanted involved in the evaluation (ST,OT, PT,etc) and a small space to write concerns.

No formal letter needed.

I provided Dr information at the initial IEP meeting when school shared results of the eval.

[Aridel]

Has she been tested recently (within the past year) by her private therapists?  The school will need, at some point, a list of standardized tests she's had within the past year or two.  If they use the same tests again they're not valid, since your dd may do artificially well, from remembering pieces of the test from the first time she saw it.

Our district always has a form for private school teachers to fill out, either at referral or during the assessment, I don't remember which.  It's very basic, but tries to get information about how the child is doing at school.  Does she have a current school progress report?  You can include that if it captures her strengths and needs. 

[StephandOwen]

When we enrolled ds in Early Start (a preschool program through the school district) we informed them very briefly of what was up. Apparently somebody dropped the ball because a couple weeks before school started his teacher came to our house to meet ds and she was SHOCKED. She had no idea about the autism or sensory issues. She had a form that she filled out and filed with the school and that got the ball rolling (very quickly because ds needed a para for safety reasons).