• Evaluation Timelines

    Once parents sign an evaluation plan and the plan is received by the district, the evaluation is due within 30 school days.

    Types of Early Childhood Special Education Evaluations

    There are two main types of evaluations completed through the 3-5 Evaluation Team: Speech and Language Only evaluations and Full Developmental evaluations. The type of evaluation will be determined based on referral information. If child speaks another language in addition to English, or has had exposure to a language in addition to English, the use of an interpreter will be discussed.

    • Speech/Language Evaluation:
      • Evaluation is scheduled with a Speech/Language Pathologist
      • Testing is typically completed within one or two sessions
      • If concerns regarding additional areas of development arise, testing in the areas of concern will be evaluated as well.
      • Testing takes place at Sandburg Education Center, 1902 2nd Ave, Anoka, MN.
      • Some parts of the evaluation may take place in the home, preschool, or child care settings, when applicable.

    • Full Developmental Evaluation:
      • Evaluation is scheduled with a Speech/Language Pathologist, an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher, and other professionals as indicated by areas of concern, such as school psychologist, occupational therapist, and school nurse.
      • Testing typically takes several sessions with at least one observation in a second setting familiar to the child.
      • If testing in the area of Social, Emotional, Behavioral Functioning, including Autism Spectrum Disorders is either requested by a parent, or suggested by the evaluation team, a School Psychologist will be consulted.


    After the Evaluation

    After the evaluation is completed, the Team determines whether or not the student meets Minnesota eligibility criteria for special education services in at least one of the following areas:

    • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
    • Blind-Visually Impaired
    • Deaf-Blind
    • Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)
    • Developmental Delay (DD)
    • Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD)
    • Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (E/BD)
    • Other Health Disabilities (OHD)
    • Physically Impaired (PI)
    • Speech or Language Impairment
    • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
    • Severely Multiply Impaired (SMI)

    If the child meets criteria for one of the above categories, a meeting will be planned with the parents to go over the results of the evaluation. An evaluation summary report (ESR) will be written and given to parents, and a copy will be placed in the child's cumulative file.  

    If the child meets criteria for one of the above categories, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting will be scheduled to review special education needs, and to plan for school services. 

    If the child does NOT meet criteria for one of the above categories , results are reviewed with the family. If appropriate, information is shared with parents about community resources and/or strategies to use in the home setting.