This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Special Education - Evaluation and Placement issues in Pennsylvania.
SPECIAL EDUCATION EVALUATIONS
Children who are eligible for special education from the age of 3 until their 22nd birthday1 have important rights and protections under the law. Before a child can begin receiving special education services, the child must be evaluated to determine whether they are eligible for these services. The evaluation helps determine whether the child has a disability, the nature of the disability, and the child’s need for special education services. A reevaluation is also important to identify any needed changes to instruction, services, and supports to enable the child to succeed. Continue Reading Full Resource. . .
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Deciding Where Your Child Will Get Services: The Placement Decision
Chapter 7 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This discusses how a decision is made as to your child's placement (where and how instruction will be delivered) after the IEP Team decides on an appropriate program of study for your child. (2021)
Getting Your Child an Independent Educational Evaluation
Chapter 4 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This provides information on what an Independent Educational Evaluation is; when it is a good idea to get one; and how to proceed to get one. [PDF] (2021)
Request for Translation and Interpretation Services
Federal civil rights laws require schools to provide free language services for multilingual parents or caregivers whose first language is not English. This form and checklist includes questions the parent or caregiver can ask about the types of language services available and when the school can provide language services. By asking these questions, the parent or caregiver will learn about the process to request language services and the point of contact at the school responsible for providing interpretation and/or translation. This self-advocacy tool is available for general education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali. This self-advocacy tool is available for special education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali.
Sample Letter for Requesting an Independent Evaluation of Your Child
This sample letter is from Appendix 4 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania. This sample letter shows you what to include in your request for an Independent Educational Evaluation of your child. [PDF]
Sample Letter Requesting an Initial Special Education Evaluation
This sample letter is from Appendix 2 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This sample letter shows you what to include in a request for an evaluation. [PDF]
Sample Letter Requesting a Re-Evaluation
This sample letter is from Appendix 3 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This sample letter showing you what to include in a request for re-evaluation of your child. [PDF]
Education Rights for Mentally Gifted Students
Consumer Legal Information Pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. (September 2014)
Education Rights for Students with Disabilities
Consumer Legal Information Pamphlet from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. (September 2014)
Deciding Where Your Child Will Get Services: The Placement Decision
Chapter 7 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This discusses how a decision is made as to your child's placement (where and how instruction will be delivered) after the IEP Team decides on an appropriate program of study for your child. (2021)
Education Law Center
The Education Law Center is a non-profit legal advocacy and educational organization, dedicated to ensuring that all of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education.
Getting Your Child an Independent Educational Evaluation
Chapter 4 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This provides information on what an Independent Educational Evaluation is; when it is a good idea to get one; and how to proceed to get one. [PDF] (2021)
Request for Translation and Interpretation Services
Federal civil rights laws require schools to provide free language services for multilingual parents or caregivers whose first language is not English. This form and checklist includes questions the parent or caregiver can ask about the types of language services available and when the school can provide language services. By asking these questions, the parent or caregiver will learn about the process to request language services and the point of contact at the school responsible for providing interpretation and/or translation. This self-advocacy tool is available for general education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali. This self-advocacy tool is available for special education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali.
Sample Letter for Requesting an Independent Evaluation of Your Child
This sample letter is from Appendix 4 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania. This sample letter shows you what to include in your request for an Independent Educational Evaluation of your child. [PDF]
Sample Letter Requesting an Initial Special Education Evaluation
This sample letter is from Appendix 2 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This sample letter shows you what to include in a request for an evaluation. [PDF]
Sample Letter Requesting a Re-Evaluation
This sample letter is from Appendix 3 of "The Right to Special Education in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates" handbook from the Education Law Center-Pennsylvania. This sample letter showing you what to include in a request for re-evaluation of your child. [PDF]
Special Education Evaluations
Information on Special Education Evaluations. Before a child can begin receiving special education services, the child must be evaluated to determine if the child is eligible for these services. The evaluation helps determine if the child has a disability and needs special education services. The evaluation is also important to identify changes to instruction, services, and supports the child needs to succeed. (August 2025)
The Right to Special Education In Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates [PDF]
Children with disabilities can do great things in school and in life when they get the right supports and services. This Guide is meant to help you – the parent – learn how the system designed to educate children with disabilities (called special education) works in Pennsylvania and how you can make it work for your child. This Guide describes the legal rules for special education and early intervention programs in Pennsylvania for children from ages three until the student’s 22nd birthday. The rules discussed in this Guide apply to children who attend public schools in Pennsylvania, including charter schools. (2021)
IEP Facilitation
IEP facilitation is a voluntary process that can be used when all parties to an IEP meeting agree that the presence of a neutral third party would help facilitate communication and the successful drafting of the student’s IEP. View this webpage from The Office for Dispute Resolution (Special Education) for more information on how the process works.
Special Education Timelines
This booklet cites the special education timelines in accordance with the requirements of Pennsylvania law, Chapter 711 Charter School and Cyber Charter School Services and Programs for Children with Disabilities, Chapter 14 Special Education Services and Programs and Federal Regulations Part 300, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (January 2026)