Understanding Your Child's Results & Common Terminology

Receiving an evaluation report can feel overwhelming. You may see unfamiliar terms, scores, and acronyms that make it difficult to understand what they mean for your child.

This guide explains some of the most common terms you'll encounter during the New York City public school special education process.

Plans & Services

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document developed for students who qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

An IEP describes:

  • Your child's strengths and needs

  • Annual learning goals

  • Special education services

  • Classroom accommodations

  • Testing accommodations

  • How progress will be measured

Remember: Every IEP is different because every child has different needs.

504 Plan

A 504 Plan provides accommodations that help students with disabilities access their education but does not include specialized instruction.

Examples include:

  • Extended testing time

  • Preferential seating

  • Breaks during testing

  • Audiobooks

  • Use of a calculator (when appropriate)

Generally speaking:

IEP = accommodations + specialized instruction

504 Plan = accommodations only

Committee on Special Education (CSE)

The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is the team responsible for reviewing evaluations and determining whether a student qualifies for special education services.

The team often includes:

  • Parents or guardians

  • General education teacher

  • Special education teacher

  • School psychologist

  • School district representative

  • Other specialists, when appropriate

Learning Disabilities & Diagnoses

Dyslexia

A learning disability that primarily affects reading, including decoding, spelling, and reading fluency. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence.

Dysgraphia

A learning disability that affects writing. Students may struggle with handwriting, spelling, organizing thoughts, or expressing ideas in writing.

Dyscalculia

A learning disability that affects understanding numbers and mathematical concepts.

Students may have difficulty with:

  • Basic math facts

  • Number sense

  • Mental math

  • Multi-step calculations

ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder can affect:

  • Attention

  • Organization

  • Impulse control

  • Working memory

  • Task completion

Although ADHD is not a learning disability, it can significantly affect learning and school performance.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental disability that can affect communication, social interaction, behavior, and sensory processing. Every autistic individual has different strengths and support needs.

Understanding Test Scores

Standard Score

Many educational tests use standard scores to compare a student's performance with that of other students the same age.

A score around 100 is considered average on many standardized assessments.

Percentile

Percentiles compare your child's performance with other students of the same age.

Example:

25th percentile

Your child performed as well as or better than approximately 25% of students their age.

It does not mean your child answered 25% of the questions correctly.

Grade Equivalent

Grade-equivalent scores estimate how a student's performance compares to the average student in a particular grade.

These scores can be confusing and should not be interpreted as your child's actual grade level.

Accommodations vs. Modifications

Accommodation

An accommodation changes how a student learns.

Examples:

  • Extra time

  • Small-group testing

  • Audiobooks

  • Speech-to-text

  • Graphic organizers

The learning expectations stay the same.

Modification

A modification changes what a student is expected to learn.

This may involve changing the curriculum or reducing the complexity of assignments.

Common School Terms

Reevaluation

A new evaluation completed to determine whether a student's educational needs or services have changed.

Related Services

Services that help a student benefit from their education.

Examples include:

  • Speech-language therapy

  • Occupational therapy (OT)

  • Physical therapy (PT)

  • Counseling

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Students with disabilities should learn alongside their peers as much as possible while still receiving the support they need.

Transition Services

Planning that helps prepare students for life after high school, including college, employment, or independent living. Transition planning typically begins during secondary school.

Common Terms You May See in an Evaluation Report

These are words that often appear in psychoeducational or school evaluation reports:

  • Working Memory – Holding and using information in your mind for a short period of time.

  • Processing Speed – How quickly your child can take in and respond to information.

  • Executive Functioning – Skills used to plan, organize, start tasks, manage time, and stay focused.

  • Phonological Awareness – Recognizing and working with the sounds in spoken words, an important foundation for learning to read.

  • Decoding – Using letter-sound relationships to read unfamiliar words.

  • Reading Fluency – Reading accurately, smoothly, and with appropriate speed.

  • Reading Comprehension – Understanding the meaning of what is read.

  • Written Expression – Organizing and communicating ideas through writing.

  • Visual-Motor Integration – Coordinating what the eyes see with hand movements, which can affect handwriting and drawing.