Psycho-educational testing

What disabilities make a student eligible for accommodations?

• Blindness/Vision impaired
• AD/HD
• Learning disabilities
• Deafness/Hearing impaired
• Certain medical conditions
• Certain physical disabilities
• Certain psychiatric conditions

When is psycho-educational testing recommended?
Psycho-educational testing is recommended when a student is exhibiting struggles in school to determine his/her level of academic functioning and academic potential.  When teachers and parents question why certain tasks or subjects seem difficult, evaluations can provide answers and appropriate measures can be taken to support the student.

What do I ask for?
You will usually ask for a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation.  This includes a student's developmental history, current achievement levels, a series of intelligence  tests and measures (i.e. WISC, etc.), screening for learning disabilities, and other psychological or neurological testing as deemed necessary by the evaluator.  The evaluator determines which tests are appropriate and makes specific recommendations for the student’s success.  Sometimes it is appropriate for the evaluator to speak with individuals from the school (i.e. counselors, teachers, etc.).  In some situations the evaluator may want the student’s current teachers to fill out evaluations and questionnaires.  The input from a variety of sources will help the evaluator develop an accurate and specific evaluation.  All information is handled with confidentiality.

Where do I go?
OES does not require that you use certain evaluators but can provide you with several referrals. OES maintains relationships with evaluators who know the school, whose work we know, and whose work is useful to other families.  When a referral is made, please consider the following:

• Expediency
  
  
• How soon can the testing process begin?  How soon can the results be processed and accessible?
  
  
• Cost.  Check and see if your medical insurance will cover the testing.  How do the fees compare with other evaluators? Please note that many families find their insurance does not cover educational assessments. (Testing costs vary according to the type and level of testing.  Prices can range from about $1500 to $5000) 
  
  
• Reliability and reputation.  Is the evaluator qualified and certified to administer the tests needed?  For example, a reading specialist is qualified to administer several tests but generally is not qualified to administer the WISC.  Is this evaluator someone who has worked with OES before and has the school found the reports valid and useful?  Also, does the evaluator put the students at ease and does the evaluator schedule a conference with the student and parents?
  
  
• Expertise.  Does the evaluator specialize in diagnosing the specific problem?  For example, if you suspect ADD, does the evaluator specialize in that type of diagnosis?

Most evaluators will schedule one intake session, two or three testing sessions, and one session to discuss the findings.  These appointments last about one hour, but the testing lasts longer.

What results can be expected?
A good psycho-educational evaluation will focus on how the student learns, in addition to what he or she knows.  It will focus on specific strengths and weaknesses of the student, rather than a cumulative score.  Test results SOMETIMES lead to a recommendation of certain accommodations.  Two frequent accommodations are extended time and use of a computer or word processor on in-school assignments and testing.

A psycho-educational assessment may position a student to apply for eligibility on standardized tests such as the PSAT, SAT, SAT II, AP, or ACT.  In order to qualify for these, please talk with your school counselor and visit the College Board website for further information.

Accommodations

A student with a documented disability, a condition that substantially limits his or her learning, may be eligible for accommodations on standardized tests as well as tests administered by OES Upper School faculty. OES uses the criteria that have been established by the College Board to determine the student’s eligibility.

Documentation for accommodation eligibility on standardized tests must:

• State the specific disability, as diagnosed
• Be current
• Provide relevant educational, developmental, and medical history
• Describe the functional limitations
• Describe the specific accommodations requested
• Establish the professional credentials of the evaluator
• Include tests and measures of cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and academic skills in timed testing setting
• Include test scores

How long does the process take?
It depends on the evaluator’s availability.  When the evaluation portion is complete, the application process with the College Board takes up to seven weeks.

How does OES use the results?
The counselor arranges a staffing to create a plan to integrate the findings into the classroom and support the academic success of the student.  The goal is to further empower the student as a learner.

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