How to Get Your Child Evaluated
For Private School Families
If your child attends a private school and is experiencing academic, attention, or learning challenges, the evaluation process may look different than it does in a public school.
Unlike public schools, many private schools do not conduct evaluations themselves. Instead, families are typically referred to an independent psychologist or neuropsychologist for a private evaluation.
The exact process varies by school, but the steps below are common for many private school families.
Document Your Concerns
Begin by collecting specific information about the difficulties your child is experiencing.
Helpful materials may include:
Report cards and progress reports
Teacher comments or emails
Writing samples, tests, or other schoolwork
Previous evaluations
Tutoring or intervention records
Notes about concerns observed at home
A list of supports that have already been tried
Try to describe specific patterns rather than simply saying your child is “struggling.” For example:
“My child understands class discussions but has difficulty completing written assignments independently.”
Meet With the Private School
Ask to meet with your child’s teacher, learning specialist, school psychologist, counselor, or academic-support coordinator.
Questions to ask include:
What concerns have teachers observed?
How long have these concerns been present?
What classroom supports have already been tried?
Has my child made progress with those supports?
Does the school recommend a particular type of evaluation?
What documentation will the school need afterward?
Which accommodations and services can the school provide?
The school may be able to recommend evaluators, but families should still independently review each evaluator’s qualifications, experience, cost, and services.
Choose an Evaluation Route
No-cost option: Request an Evaluation Through NYC Public Schools
Pros: no financial commitment
Cons: does not involve a full neuropsychological evaluation (*see below), and if your child qualifies for an IEP which includes support services and accommodations (called an IESP in private school), it is important to confirm that your school accepts IESPs before engaging in this process.
*A psychoeducational evaluation is shorter than a neuropsychological evaluation and therefore takes less time to conduct. However, they do offer a fairly comprehensive view of a learner’s areas of strength and challenge and are used to determine whether the student qualifies for an IEP or 504 plan for services and support (both of which are explained under “Understanding the Results and Terminology under the Public Schooling Process.”)
NYC Public Schools is responsible for identifying and evaluating students suspected of having disabilities, including students who are parentally placed in private or religious schools in New York City. These evaluations are completed at no cost to the family.
Find the Correct CSE
For a school-age child attending a private school in NYC, the written referral is generally submitted to the Committee on Special Education associated with the private school's location, not directly to the private school principal. NYC has multiple CSE offices serving different geographic school districts.
Submit a Written Referral
The referral should include:
Your child’s full legal name
Date of birth
Private school and grade
Your name, address, phone number, and email
Your preferred language, when applicable
A description of your concerns
Any services or interventions your child has received
A clear statement requesting a special-education evaluation
NYCPS requires the request to be in writing
Complete the Intake and Consent Forms
After the referral is received, the family should receive information about the process and be asked to participate in a social-history interview. A parent must sign the Consent for Initial Evaluation before the evaluation can begin.
The CSE may request or review materials such as:
School records
Teacher reports
Medical or developmental history
Previous evaluations
Parent questionnaires
Samples of schoolwork
The Evaluation Is Conducted
The CSE determines which assessments are needed based on the areas of concern. Testing may include psychological, educational, speech-language, occupational-therapy, behavioral, or other assessments.
A public-school evaluation is intended primarily to determine whether the child meets eligibility requirements for special-education services. It may not be identical to a comprehensive private neuropsychological evaluation.
Attend the CSE Meeting
After the evaluation, the CSE meets with the family to review the results and determine whether the child is eligible for special education.
For an eligible New York State resident who remains enrolled in private school, the CSE generally develops an Individualized Education Services Program, or IESP, rather than a public-school IEP. The IESP identifies the special-education and related services that will be provided while the child attends private school.
Request Services by the Deadline
This is especially important.
Families who want publicly funded special-education services while their child remains in private school generally must submit a written Notice of Intent to the CSE of location by June 1 before the upcoming school year. There are separate timing rules for children who are first identified after June 1.
Important Information for Private School Families
Every private school has its own policies regarding learning support, accommodations, and outside evaluations. While a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation can provide valuable information about your child's strengths, challenges, and educational needs, it does not automatically guarantee that every recommendation will be implemented by the school.
Some schools are able to provide a wide range of accommodations and services, while others may have more limited resources or different policies. Families may need to work closely with school administrators, learning specialists, and teachers to determine which recommendations can reasonably be put into place.
If you have questions about what accommodations your child's school offers, we encourage you to discuss them with your school's learning support team before scheduling an evaluation.
Cost to family option (standard approach)
Pros: Involves a highly comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation that is the most common documentation accepted at most private schools (in the New York City area, and often beyond), offering the most detailed information about your child as a learner.
Cons: Costs can range (as of 2026) from roughly $4.000 to $12,000 (some private schools offer financial support to families receiving financial aid; it is essential to inquire about this with your school).
Some families choose an independent evaluation because they want a more detailed understanding of their child’s learning profile, want to select their own evaluator, or do not feel that a school-based assessment will answer all of their questions.
Identify the Right Type of Evaluator
For a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, look for a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist with experience evaluating children and adolescents.
Ask whether the evaluator has experience with:
Dyslexia and reading disorders
Written-expression difficulties
Math learning disabilities
ADHD and executive functioning
Language-based learning differences
Your child’s age group
Private-school recommendations and accommodations
Contact Several Evaluators
Before scheduling, ask:
What type of evaluation do you recommend?
What areas will be tested?
What is the total cost?
Is the consultation included?
Is the written report included?
Are teacher questionnaires or classroom observations included?
When will the report be completed?
Will you speak with the school afterward?
Do you accept insurance or provide a superbill?
Are payment plans or reduced-fee options available?
Families should not feel pressured to book the first evaluator recommended by the school.
Confirm What the Private School Requires
Before paying for testing, ask the school:
Does the evaluator need particular credentials?
How recent must the testing be?
Does the report need specific tests or documentation?
Who reviews the report?
Does the school require a separate accommodation-request form?
Are outside recommendations automatically accepted?
A private evaluation can provide strong supporting information, but a private school may have its own process for deciding which recommendations it can implement.
Complete the Evaluation
The process will often include:
Parent intake interview
Review of educational and developmental history
Teacher questionnaires
Record review
Individual testing sessions
Scoring and interpretation
Feedback meeting
Written report
Give the evaluator relevant school records before testing whenever possible.
Review the Report Carefully
During the feedback meeting, ask the evaluator to explain:
Your child’s strengths
Areas of difficulty
Diagnoses, when appropriate
Test scores and percentiles
Recommended instruction
Classroom accommodations
Testing accommodations
Services or therapies
Which recommendations are most urgent
Ask for clarification whenever the report uses language you do not understand.
Share the Results With the School
Send the report to the person responsible for learning support and request a meeting.
During that meeting, discuss:
Which recommendations the school can provide
When supports will begin
Who will oversee them
How teachers will be informed
How progress will be monitored
When the plan will be reviewed
Private schools may create an internal learning plan or accommodation plan. That document is not necessarily the same as an IEP or IESP.
Access to Assessment provides general educational information and is not a law firm, medical practice, or evaluation provider. Requirements may vary depending on a child’s residence, the location of the private school, eligibility, and the services being requested. Families should confirm current procedures and deadlines directly with their private school, evaluator, and NYC Committee on Special Education.
Feel free to submit any questions