Should I get testing done privately or through the schools?

There are obvious pros and cons to both.  Let’s start with testing through the public schools.  Yes, parents have the right to a comprehensive evaluation through the schools, but only if the school suspects a disability that would qualify for Special Education support.  Let me unpack this because the last part here is crucial.  It’s true, parents can always request testing for Special Education support, but that doesn’t magically make it happen.  After all, if any parent could just request an evaluation, then schools would be testing a lot of students who may not require extra support.  And that’d be a lot of tax money!  So, just saying the words, “I want my kid tested,” doesn’t automatically mean that it’s going to happen. 

But testing can and does happen if a student is receiving extra support, if the student is not making good progress, and if the school suspects that the child has disability.  Testing, in this case, would help determine if the child is eligible for Special Education support.  So, if a student is earning Bs or if a student is passing most end-of-year Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, then testing would most likely not be appropriate.  In the end, testing through the schools is not for the many, it is for the few.  But, it is free.  Well, your tax dollars pay for it, but it’s not like the school isn’t going to bill you.  You get the idea.

So, what about a private evaluation?  Yes, it does cost money, but—and I swore that I’d never use a cliché on my website—you often get what you pay for.  And here is why.  To start, in a school setting assessments are often rushed.  And I can say that after working in schools for over a decade, after completing hundreds of evaluations through the schools.  School psychologists have an array of responsibilities: counseling, testing, meetings with parents, meetings with teachers, and more meetings after these.  And with so many responsibilities and limited time, it’s hard to do them all exceptionally well.  In the end, evaluations may not be the best they could be.  It happens.  It shouldn’t happen, but it does.  One of the primary reasons I started my private practice was to ensure that I could spend the appropriate time with each and every evaluation that I do.  No matter what.  Because, I firmly believe that psychological testing should never be rushed.

Secondly, in the public schools the parent has no say about who completes the evaluation.  Let’s face it, no one can say that all psychologists have the same experience, skills, and insight.  For example, there is a reason that I literally drive one hour when I need major work done to my car.  It’s because I trust Mark, my mechanic, with my car’s life.  He is honest, his prices are reasonable, and his second (and correct) opinions have saved me a lot of time, hassle, and money.  It’s the same with other professionals.  Some psychologists specialize in counseling, others in creating behavior plans, others in coordinating school-wide supports.  In the end, not many are self-proclaimed assessment geeks like me.

Third, in a school, it is often a special education teacher who completes a portion of the evaluation.  What makes this important?  Well, this teacher doesn’t use this assessment often—maybe two or three times throughout the year—and so may not be intimately familiar with the test.  This can be problematic: perhaps the teacher misses a nuance of the test, perhaps a scoring rule is missed, or they don’t quite understand or can’t explain the test like it’s their good friend.  Ultimately, you’d want a professional who has deep experience with this test, who’s given it dozens—if not hundreds—of times.

Fourth, private evaluations often address the global question: why is my child struggling?  A school evaluation often focuses on a slightly different question: does my child qualify for Special Education services?  Although these sound similar, they can at times lead to markedly different evaluations, recommendations, and outcomes. 

Similarly, in a school setting, a parent’s voice and concerns may not be loud and clear.  School evaluations reflect teacher concerns, and there are plenty of times that parent input is minimal or altogether absent.  And this makes sense because it’s a school-based evaluation.  Private evaluations are different.  Yes, I elicit teacher feedback, and this is vital.  But, the primary focus of the evaluation is dictated by the parent.  

In the end, I’m in private practice to take the time to truly understand each student, to thoroughly address parent concerns, and to come up with a comprehensive plan for success.  No shortcuts, no rushing, just expert and personal service for each family who walks through my door.  That’s a lot of info. If you’re still reading and want to talk about your student and possible next steps, get in touch with me here.